Verbal agreements are in for a match featuring two of Europe’s top welterweights as Germany’s undefeated 10-0 Pascal "Panzer" Krauss will take on England’s 15-1 John "The Hitman" Hathaway May 5 in New Jersey.
Gaudinot Gets Cinco de Mayo Showdown at Flyweight updated February 3
The UFC flyweight division continues to take shape as Louis Gaudinot returns to his true weight class after his stint on last season's Ultimate Fighter. He'll next face John Lineker, who will enter the UFC riding a 13-fight win streak. Both fighters have verbally agreed to the matchup at UFC on FOX in May.
Heavyweights Barry vs. Johnson to Collide on FOX updated February 1
Get ready for heavyweight fireworks as verbal agreements are in for a showdown between knockout artists Lavar "Big" Johnson and Pat "HD" Barry on the main card of FOX's third event this May 5 in New Jersey.
Plus, Karlos Vemola has verbally agreed to drop down to middleweight to face New Jersey’s own Mike "The Master of Disaster" Massenzio.
UFC officials also confirmed that the lightweight bout between Nate Diaz and Jim Miller that night will be the main event and will be scheduled for five rounds.
Superman vs. the Boogeyman in New Jersey in May updated January 30
A second lightweight scrap has been added to the UFC on FOX </a>fight card recently announced for May 5 in East Rutherford, NJ. Lightweights Dennis "Superman" Hallman and TUF 13 winner Tony "El Cucuy" (which translates to "The Boogeyman") Ferguson have verbally agreed to the matchup.
Ferguson is coming off a December 3rd decision win after a thrilling three-round fight with fellow stand-up ace Yves Edwards; Hallman scored a first-round blitz submission over John Makdessi a week later at UFC 140.
Third FOX Event to Feature Lightweight War updated January 24
East Rutherford, New Jersey could well be home to Fight of the Year this May 5 on FOX, as two of the best lightweights in the world collide to move closer to a title shot. New Jersey’s own Jim Miller, coming off of a Submission of the Night win over Melvin Guillard, will take on Nate Diaz, who is coming off a Fight of the Night-winning victory over Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone.
UFC president Dana White tweeted the news today, noting that both men are known bonus collectors. Miller has won a Fight of the Night award and three Submission of the Night awards; Diaz has won three Submission of the Night awards and five Fight of the Night awards.
Also at that event, verbal agreements are in for a meetup at 125 pounds between last season's Ultimate Fighter bantamweight winner, John Dodson, and Darren Uyenoyama. Both men are moving down from 135 pounds to do battle in the UFC's newest division, flyweight.
Posted on 6 February 2012 | 1:00 am
The UFC's spring fight card in Atlanta has its main event, as UFC president Dana White confirmed today that light heavyweight champion Jon Jones will defend his title against former-teammate-turned-rival Rashad Evans, a former beltholder in that division. The heated matchup was expected after Evans handily decisioned then-undefeated Phil Davis at UFC on FOX and was made official today.
Torres vs. McDonald Plus Eight Bouts Confirmed for Atlanta updated Jan 20
Verbal agreements are in for a thrilling battle between bantamweights this spring. "What may be the hottest prospect in the 135-pound division takes on one of the all-time greats when Michael McDonald meets former WEC champion Miguel Torres at UFC 145 in Atlanta," said UFC president Dana White.
Also at that event, former Strikeforce fighter Maximo Blanco will make his featherweight debut against last season's Ultimate Fighter contestant Marcus Brimage. Both athletes possess a powerful striking style and have verbally agreed to the bout.
Additionally, seven bouts that had been set to take place on the Montreal fight card have been shifted to the Atlanta event. Verbal agreements remain in place for the following matchups at the new venue:
Rory MacDonald vs. Che Mills - welterweight
Brendan Schaub vs. Ben Rothwell - heavyweight
Mark Bocek vs. Matt Wiman - lightweight
Travis Browne vs. Chad Griggs - heavyweight
John Makdessi vs. Anthony Njokuani - lightweight
Mac Danzig vs. Efrain Escudero - lightweight
Keith Wisniewski vs. Chris Clements - welterweight
A main event is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Hominick vs. Yagin Re-Set for Atlanta Event updated January 19
The UFC is heading to Hotlanta and the first fight on the card has been announced: featherweight contender Mark Hominick will take on up-and-comer Eddie Yagin. Both fighters had agreed to the bout when it was slated to take place in Montreal; that event has since been shelved.
News of the Atlanta date was originally announced last week on FUEL TV's UFC Tonight, which airs every Tuesday at 10 pm ET/7 pm PT.
Posted on 6 February 2012 | 1:00 am
NOT AS ADVERTISED, BUT POSSIBLY THE BEST TACTICAL DISPLAY OF 2012 TO DATE
Anyone who read my pre-fight breakdown knows that I was seriously salivating over what appeared to be a surefire barnburner between Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit. I really thought the matchup had all the necessary ingredients for a “Fight of the Year” performance. The fight certainly didn’t live up to the hype from an all-action standpoint, but that does not, in any way, detract from what was a near flawless performance by Condit.
“The Natural Born Killer” committed to a game plan that consisted of sticking and moving with the use of constantly changing angles. He never varied from that attack, not even for a minute. Sure, Diaz trapped him a few times, forcing Condit to fight with his back against the cage. But those exchanges lasted only a few brief seconds before the new interim champion circled away from the cage and resumed his tactical approach.
Diaz pleaded with him over and over to stand and fight, using vitriolic trash talking, taunts with his hands at his side, and doing just about everything else he could think of to try and goad his foe into a brawl. Condit never gave in to temptation, despite the fact that his natural inclination is to plant his feet and go to war with opponents. Anyone who believes that is easy to do should go back and watch Diaz’s career over the last four or five years. Every one of his opponents, except for British slugger Paul Daley, entered the cage with the same game plan. Only Condit was able to successfully implement it.
While the end result wasn’t a “Fight of the Year” battle, it was a virtuoso tactical performance, arguably the best of 2012 so far.
DEFEND OR NOT TO DEFEND, THAT IS THE QUESTION
Condit’s win over Diaz brought him a share of the championship that he so desperately coveted, but the belt comes with a dilemma. UFC President Dana White revealed after the fight that champion Georges St-Pierre is nowhere near being ready to resume full mixed martial arts training. The current estimate is the champion will finish his rehabilitation sometime in June, which means he won’t likely return to competition until November, at the earliest.
GSP’s health leaves Condit in a precarious position. He has to decide whether to wait for GSP and unify the belts in his next fight or take an optional defense while the Canadian standout is on the mend. That may seem like an easy choice, but this is anything but an easy decision. Let’s look at both sides of the issue.
The argument in favor of waiting is an easy one to make. First and foremost, Condit knows that his title is only a placeholder until GSP returns. He will forever be able to refer to himself as a UFC titlist, but not a champion, until he defeats GSP (or GSP fails to return from his current injury exile). Thus, he hasn’t really accomplished his goal of reaching the pinnacle of the sport. Not yet anyway.
Taking an interim fight in the unpredictable world of the UFC, where there is no such thing as a tune-up or keep-busy championship bout, creates a risk that he will never actually receive the opportunity to challenge for the true championship. Thus, the risk created by defending the interim belt outweighs the reward, in terms of building Condit’s legacy in the sport.
Second, if there is ever a time to face GSP, who is one of the best fighters on the planet, pound for pound, it is right after he returns from a major injury. GSP will have to deal with the dreaded cage rust when he returns. I’m not listening to any argument to the contrary.
There is no way that he will be as sharp in his first fight back as he was in his last bout. The issues caused by the time away from active training and actual fighting are compounded by the mental hurdle associated with getting over an ACL tear is no joke. It takes most athletes some reps in actual competition, even once fully healed and rehabilitated, to subconsciously believe that the knee is ready for game speed. I will be shocked, if GSP is any different.
GSP, therefore, should have holes in his game that might not otherwise be present, if Condit faces him at any other point in their respective careers. Why risk blowing that opportunity, just to take an interim fight?
The argument for taking an interim fight is also pretty straightforward. Any advantage that Condit has over GSP due to the champion’s injury-forced exile is tempered by the interim champion self-exiling himself for a long period of time.
Keep in mind that the longest layoff of Condit’s career is 269 days. If he fights GSP on November 1, he will break his personal inactive mark by two days, and there is no guarantee that the true champion will be ready by November 1. Any little setback in his rehabilitation or preparation could postpone the fight even further, which means cage rust will be just as big of a problem for Condit as it is GSP.
Think otherwise? Talk to Rashad Evans about hanging around and waiting for an opportunity, rather than remaining busy. He will quickly admit that long stretches away have affected his subsequent performances. Again, why would Condit be any different?
Equally relevant is the fact that the fight game is as much about earning a living as it is competition. Condit doesn’t get paid to sit on the sidelines. He gets paid when he fights. Does it make financial sense to wait until November or possibly later for his next payday? Remember, we are talking about a guy with a wife, baby and new mortgage.
I’m a firm believer that fighters need to maximize their earnings during their brief time in sport. All fighters have very limited shelf lives. The question of “what’s next” once their career reaches its expiration date is a daunting one for all but the wealthiest of fighters, particularly since the expiration date arrives at different times for different fighters. It is a date that is nearly impossible to predict. So, passing up lucrative paydays, even in the face of risking a potentially more lucrative one down the road with GSP, seems like financial suicide to me.
Equally important, however, is the mental aspect of opting to sit on the sidelines. Think about it for a minute. If Team Condit attempts to talk their man into waiting for GSP, I question whether that would create a little doubt in the back of his mind. After all, if he isn’t good enough to defeat whomever the UFC puts in front of him, what makes anyone think he is good enough to defeat the man who many believe to be the single best fighter in the world? Will that self doubt cause hesitation when he actually receives the opportunity to fight GSP?
I’m a firm believer that Condit should take an interim defense of the interim title, based on GSP’s protracted timetable. Not only will it help maximize his short-term earnings, it will also put him in the best possible position, in my opinion, to remain at the top of his game for when the opportunity to face GSP does finally arise.
What would you do, if you were advising “The Natural Born Killer”? Let me know in the comment section below.
PAY NO MIND TO THE RETIREMENT TALK
Nick Diaz announced after the loss to Condit that he was hanging up the vale tudo gloves. To quote Public Enemy, “don’t believe the hype.”
Diaz isn’t going anywhere. Not after that loss, anyway. His words inside the Octagon were those of a deeply frustrated fighter who believed that, once again, he was treated wrongly by the system. I’m not so sure that he will continue to hold that belief when he goes back and watches the tape of the fight.
For the record, I scored the fight 3-2 for Diaz, giving him the nod in rounds one, two and five. The first two rounds were easy to score, in my opinion, as were rounds three and four. The final round was a bear, and I’ll admit that I still go back and forth on that one.
On one hand, Condit definitely landed more in terms of striking volume and significant strikes. He also showed far better Octagon control by darting in and out, while Diaz continually and ineffectively chased him around.
On the other hand, the takedown followed by the back mount was the single most dominant position of the round for either fighter. Condit was in more danger of getting stopped in those moments than Diaz was at any point in the fight. Of course, Diaz didn’t actually come very close with any of his submission attempts, so there is a school of thought that says I shouldn’t give so much weight to the takedown and back mount. It is a completely subjective question, one that I actually don’t feel that strongly about. In fact, after re-watching the fight, I am actually starting to lean toward Condit for the final round.
Whatever your scoring philosophy, the bout was close enough that it wasn’t highway robbery for either man to drop the decision on Saturday night. Diaz should not feel as if he has been wronged by the establishment. He should instead ask himself why he was unable to cut off the cage when Condit was on his bicycle, or why he didn’t get off first when Condit came into range. It was a very un-Diaz-like performance, one that I chalk up to a bad night mixed with a virtuoso effort by Condit.
Diaz isn’t going anywhere, folks. Trust me on that one. In fact, I think he is probably just one win away from re-asserting himself as the number one contender. Dana White mentioned in a post-fight interview that Diaz versus Josh Koscheck would be an interesting next fight. I agree. I think that is an excellent way to shake out who stands behind Condit, if he opts to wait for GSP. If Condit decides to take an interim challenge, I think Diaz has a strong argument that he deserves a rematch.
Either way, my guess is that Nick Diaz will be back in action inside the Octagon before summertime.
Watch the UFC® 143 replay here
Posted on 6 February 2012 | 1:00 am
The rematch between featherweights Mackens Semerzier and Robert Peralta slated for March is off, as Peralta has been forced to withdraw from the bout due to injury.
Stepping in for Peralta will be Daniel Pineda, fresh off a quick submission victory in his Octagon debut January 20. Both fighters have verbally agreed to the new matchup.
Noke Gets New Opponent for UFC in Sydney updated January 19
Aussie Kyle Noke has has an opponent change for his upcoming UFC on FX bout in Sydney, as it was announced today that Jared Hamman has been injured and forced to withdraw. Stepping to face Noke will be undefeated Texan Andrew Craig, who will make his UFC debut down under. Both men have verbally agreed to the new matchup.
Te Huna vs. Rosa at UFC on FX 2 updated January 10
Verbal agreements are in for a light heavyweight showdown between Aaron Rosa and Australian power puncher James Te Huna. The March 3 event will mark Te Huna's third appearance at a UFC event in Sydney.
Sydney Card Taking Shape updated January 5
Australian fans have a bevy of brawls to look forward to, as verbal agreements are in for a handful of matchups on the March 3 card.
Hometown favorite Anthony "The Hippo" Perosh will welcome 11-1 light heavyweight prospect Nick Penner to the UFC. Perosh is coming off of back to back submission wins and looks to make it three in a row in his home country.
Another Australian, TUF 11's Kyle Noke will meet in a middleweight match against Jared “The Messenger’ Hamman.
At welterweight, verbal agreements are in for a match between 11-2 Jake "The Hitman" Hecht and submission specialist TJ Waldburger.
TUF 14 standout Steven Siler looks to continue to impress in the featherweight division by taking taking on Cole Miller, who is dropping a weight division and making his debut at 145 pounds. "Siler surprised many by taking out Cole's brother, Micah, to earn a spot in last season's Ultimate Fighter, said UFC president Dana White. "Miller is coming off an impressive submission stoppage in his last outing."
Also at 145 pounds, featherweight contenders Mackens Semerzier and Robbie Peralta will go at it once more after their previous bout at UFC on FOX 1 ended up as a no-contest due to an accidental head-butt.
And two heavyweights have verbally agreed to make their UFC debuts in Sydney as 12-3 Strikeforce vet Shawn "The Savage" Jordan will take on 9-2 Brit Oli Thompson.
Court McGee, Costa Philippou Slated for Sydney updated December 27
Verbal agreements are in for a dynamic matchup between hard-hitting middleweights Constantinos Philippou and Court ‘The Crusher’ McGee for March 3. TUF 11 winner Court McGee most recently decisioned the ultra-tough Dongi Yang, while Philippou is coming off a blistering first-round knockout win at UFC 140.
Flyweights Headed Down Under updated December 10
The March 3 Australia event will mark the introduction of the UFC's flyweight division, with two bouts that will determine the
contenders for the UFC’s first-ever flyweight championship.
Former number-one bantamweight contender Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson battles Ian McCall, and longtime 135-pound standout Joseph Benavidez will also drop to 125 pounds to face Japan’s Yasuhiro Urushitani.
Alves vs. Kampmann Confirmed updated November 29
“A potential fight of the night candidate has been verbally agreed to as Martin ‘The Hitman' Kampmann will face Thiago ‘Pit Bull’ Alves in a welterweight match early next year," confirmed UFC president Dana White today.
The event will be aired on the FX Network in early March of next year.
Posted on 6 February 2012 | 1:00 am
Las Vegas, Nevada –TapouT®, the premier MMA lifestyle brand and longtime supporter of the sport of mixed martial arts, has become an official lifestyle apparel partner of the Ultimate Fighting Championship®, the companies announced today.
The multi-year deal gives TapouT exposure at UFC® events broadcast on Pay-Per-View, FX and FUEL TV via canvas logos, bumpers and billboards. In addition, TapouT will present the “Submission of the Night” feature on UFC broadcasts, as well as take part in on-site activation at UFC events globally. The agreement also includes an extensive digital media plan, with TapouT gaining visibility across multiple social media platforms and at UFC.com. Furthermore, TapouT obtains the rights to use “Official lifestyle apparel of UFC” on hangtags, point-of-sale and advertising.
TapouT, which is owned by New York-based ABG TapouT, LLC a division of Authentic Brands Group LLC, has a long history of sponsoring UFC athletes in the Octagon®.
“TapouT has been a big supporter of the sport and its athletes for a long time,” said Bryan Johnston, CMO of UFC. “We’re excited to have them as our official lifestyle apparel partner as we get ready for some of the biggest years in UFC history.”
“It’s been a dream of ours ever since we watched the first UFC to be an official partner of the best MMA organization in the world,” said TapouT co-founder, Dan “Punkass” Caldwell.
“The UFC is a world class professional sports organization with an aggressive global growth strategy in line with ours,” said Nick Woodhouse, CMO of Authentic Brands Group. “This partnership with the UFC further reinforces TapouT’s commitment to supporting the sport, its athletes and beloved fans.”
Posted on 6 February 2012 | 1:00 am
Seven fighters - plus UFC President Dana White - attended the UFC 143 post-fight press conference: Carlos Condit, Renan Barao, Josh Koscheck, Fabricio Werdum, Dustin Poirier, Ed Herman, and Stephen Thompson.
The event's Fight of the Night bonuses went to Fabricio Werdum and Roy Nelson. The two heavyweights engaged in a back-and-forth battle that took place predominantly on the feet, with Werdum taking the unanimous decision.
KO of the Night went to newcomer Thompson, who laid out fellow debutant Dan Stittgen with a highlight-reel head kick in the first round.
Dustin Poirier earned Submission of the Night for his mounted first-round triangle/armbar over Max Holloway. With the win, Poirier moves to 4-0 inside the Octagon.
Each bonused fighter received $65,000.
Press Conference highlights:
Werdum and Koscheck
Condit
Watch the UFC® 143 replay
Posted on 5 February 2012 | 1:00 am
LAS VEGAS, February 4 – Georges St-Pierre longs to punish the only fighter he hates. But instead of facing bitter rival Nick Diaz for the UFC welterweight title, GSP must now mentally prepare to battle a teammate of sorts in Carlos Condit.
With GSP watching cageside, Condit uncharacteristically and methodically danced and kicked his way to a unanimous decision victory over Diaz Saturday night in the UFC 143 main event at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. The triumph earned Condit the UFC interim welterweight title, and he will meet St-Pierre for the belt sometime later this year depending on St. Pierre’s pending recovery from a torn ACL.
“It was pretty sweet. My coaches and teammates prepared me for this fight,” said Condit, the former World Extreme Cagefighting champ who pushed his record to 28-6. “I did what they told me to do and it carried me to victory. Hats off to Nick Diaz. He’s a warrior. I’ve got nothing but respect for how he fights.”
Regarding his future date with GSP, who trains at Tri-Star in Montreal under Firas Zahabi but who has also trained extensively with Condit trainer Greg Jackson, Condit had this to say:
“It is an honor. Georges is a guy I’ve looked up to since I was young and before I was in the UFC. I’m completely honored.”
Diaz, who stalked Condit nearly all of the fight and had his moments with combinations – including an impressive 8 or 9-punch combo to Condit’s body in round two – surprised everyone in the post-fight interview, effectively announcing his retirement at the relatively tender age of 28.
“I’m not going to accept the fact this was a loss,” said Diaz (27-8), who hadn’t lost in over four years. “I’ve lost fights before…but that (decision) ain’t right. I pushed him back the whole fight, I walked him back …Carlos is a great guy. I think I’m done with this MMA ... I had some fun. I don’t need this s---. I pushed this guy backward the whole fight. He kicked me with little baby leg kicks the whole fight. I don’t want to fight this way anymore. I’m out of this s---.”
Diaz had made things very interesting late in the final round when he took Condit down, took his back and tried for a rear naked choke.
To chants of “Diaz! Diaz!” the usually ultra-aggressive Condit came out in the first round way more mobile than usual, firing away with leg kicks.
In the second half of the round, however, Diaz, ever-stalking and now verbally taunting, scored with his boxing, included a beautiful shot to the body followed up with a crisp punch to the face. By round’s end, Diaz was still sticking out that chin and taunting and Condit was bleeding under his left eye.
In round two, Condit was more reticent and dancing. Greg Jackson’s were fingerprints all over it and Diaz was the one constantly pushing the action. In Diaz’s best sequence of the fight, he caught Condit against the fence and unleashed a volley of eight or nine punches to the body. Condit wasn’t nearly as busy as he had been in the first stanza.
In rounds three and four, Condit started attacking Diaz with more vigor, primarily behind an assortment of kicks to Diaz’s lead leg, midsection and head. Never did it seem as if the charging Diaz was wounded, but perhaps the noted boxer became frustrated by Condit’s constant mobility and refusal to stand in the pocket to exchange. Nevertheless, it was an intelligent and effective strategy, one that allowed Condit to cinch rounds three and four in the eyes of many in media row. Simply, Diaz’s fists had trouble finding any part of Condit’s body.
Judges scored it 48-47, 49-46 and 49-46 for Condit.
Watch Condit's post-fight Interview
Hear what Diaz had to say during his post-fight interview
Watch the UFC® 143 replay
Posted on 4 February 2012 | 1:00 am
LAS VEGAS, February 4 - In a battle of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belts, Fabricio Werdum brutalized and bloodied Roy Nelson in the Muay Thai clinch for most of their UFC 143 co-main event at the Mandalay Bay Events Center Saturday night, winning a unanimous decision. And yet a slimmed down “Big Country” never stopped coming forward, even briefly dropping Werdum with his signature overhand right in what was otherwise a grossly lopsided first round.
The whuppin’ Werdum delivered also featured high kicks, front kicks to the face and crisp punching combinations. The world champion grappler’s unpredictability served notice to future heavyweights that Werdum, after nearly 3 and ½ years away from the Octagon, can beat opponents in so many different ways.
“This was the strategy. I know Roy Nelson is a tough guy, but I do Muay Thai every day,” said Werdum, whose closest call came when Roy Nelson trapped him in a tight standing guillotine choke.
Scores for Werdum were 30-27 across the board. Watch Werdum's post-fight interview
MIKE PIERCE VS. JOSH KOSCHECK
Up and coming welterweight Mike Pierce called out longtime contender Josh Koscheck and did his best to back it up, but it was “Kos” who grinded out a split decision in UFC 143 main card action Saturday.
In what was predominantly a standup affair between two high-level wrestlers, a couple of Koscheck takedowns, some timely right hands and being busier down the stretch likely proved to be the difference. Koscheck bled from the mouth and Pierce from the nose by the end of the fight.
As they often do, when “Voice of the Octagon” Bruce Buffer announced the winner, fans indulged the opportunity to massively boo Koscheck, which didn’t faze the welterweight contender too much.
“You guys boo me all the time. I’m the most hated man in MMA,” he said nonchalantly. “Guess what? I win. Deal with it, man. I win.”
Two judges scored the bout 29-28 for Koscheck (19-5); the third saw it 29-28 for Pierce (13-5).Hear what a fired-up Kos had to say after the fight
RENAN BARAO VS. SCOTT JORGENSEN
Fast and accurate puncher? Check.
Hard leg kicks. Check.
Distinguished BJJ black belt? Check.
Superb takedown defense? Check.
Future UFC champ? Well, the verdict is still out on whether Renan Barao will reach MMA’s Promised Land, but after stretching his unbeaten streak to 30 fights (tops in the UFC) with a commanding win over Scott Jorgensen, it does not seem far-fetched to think the 24-year-old Brazilian just might follow in the footsteps of teammate and featherweight superstar Jose Aldo.
Through the first two rounds, Barao virtually put on a clinic, loading up on his jabs, low kicks, and cracking Jorgensen hard with combinations that occasionally snapped the Idahoan’s head back. A lesser opponent would have folded, for sure, but Jorgensen is nothing short of a battering ram, and he just kept brushing off the carnage and charging forward (and occasionally landing some hard shots himself).
Jorgensen, a decorated Division I wrestler in his day, tried in vain for takedowns but was always rebuffed. Entering the third round, this much was clear: Jorgensen would need a finish to pull it out. One of his cornermen tried to inspire that sense of urgency in Jorgensen as he stepped off his stool to begin the final round.
“Win this fight right now! Come on let’s go!” he yelled.
Jorgensen (13-5) remained super-aggressive and had his best round, drawing blood on Barao’s face with his punches. Yet Barao, despite losing a little bit of steam on his punches, always retaliated and usually got the better of the exchanges.
Judges handed him a unanimous decision via scores of 30-27 across the board.
“I came here to fight three rounds. He was a very tough opponent and I expected that,” Barao said. “We trained a lot the distance and the kicks. That was exactly the gameplan.”
Before leaving his interview with commentator Joe Rogan, Barao had a message for everyone else at 135 pounds.
“I want the belt!” he yelled. Watch Barao's post-fight interview
ED HERMAN VS. CLIFFORD STARKS
Ed Herman couldn’t stop the heavy right hand of Clifford Starks. And Clifford Starks couldn’t stop the Brazilian jiu-jitsu skills of Ed Herman.
In the end, it was Herman’s BJJ that triumphed, knocking Starks from the ranks of the unbeaten with a rear naked choke at 1:43 of the second stanza.
“He was landing some good right hands on me; luckily I got a good chin because he was hitting me hard,” said Herman, his left eye swollen and beginning to close. “I was surprised I was getting hit with them. I shouldn’t have been standing right in front of him, but I pulled it off.”
Herman improved to 20-7. Starks, a former Arizona State University wrestler, fell to 8-1. Watch Herman's post-fight interview
Watch the UFC® 143 replay here
Posted on 4 February 2012 | 1:00 am
LAS VEGAS, February 4 - Dustin Poirier ran his win streak to four in a row in UFC 143 prelim action Saturday at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, tapping out Hawaii’s Max Holloway with an armbar from a mounted triangle at 3:23 of round one.
Holloway, the youngest fighter on the UFC roster at 20, was the aggressor early on the feet, but he was unable to stop a Poirier double leg slam that forced the action to the canvas.
“I’m happy. You know, I’m 4-0 in the UFC now. I’m for real now,” said Poirier, who keeps inching his way into title contention against UFC featherweight kingpin Jose Aldo. “(Max Holloway) is tough. He’s a great kickboxer. A lot of people don’t know him but I trained for him like I would train for Anderson Silva.”
Watch Poirier's post-fight interview
EDWIN FIGUEROA VS. ALEX CACERES
Edwin Figueroa walked away from the Octagon holding his crotch. Alex Caceres walked away wondering … well, who really knows? Surely the 23-year-old bantamweight could learn a valuable lesson after controlling Figueroa for much of their scrap – but he was unable to overcome a two-point deduction for the second of two killer low blows that made Figueroa collapse to the canvas, writhing in pain and requiring minutes to recover.
Only Figueroa can say how much those devastating illegal kicks to the groin weakened him. But Texas’ Figueroa was performing early in round one – finding “Bruce Leroy’s” chin on a few occasions, even though Caceres did momentarily drop him with a shot.
Then came a brutal low kick from Caceres. Upon the first infraction, referee Herb Dean warned Caceres but did not deduct a point.
After taking minutes to regroup, and visibly miffed, Figueroa fought on and landed a hard kick to the face that dropped Caceres, who absorbed some ground and pound shots but later turned the tide, forcing a ground war and hanging on Figueroa like a backpack but unable to finish him with a rear naked choke.
Caceres was finding his groove early in the second, scoring with a front kick and a hard right hand. Then came a second, hard blow to the crotch. Again Figueroa lay on the canvas in agony.
When they resumed, referee Dean signaled for the two-point deduction, and urgency set in for Caceres to make up the deficit on the judges’ scorecards. The Miamian was impressive for the remainder of the bout against a weakened Figueroa, whom he dominated in the grappling realm. But at every turn Figueroa fought off Caceres’ choke attacks, triangles and armbars.
In the end judges scored it 28-27, 28-27 and 27-28 for Figueroa, now 9-1. Caceres fell to 6-5. Hear what "El Feroz" had to say after the fight
CHRIS COPE VS. MATT BROWN
A right-hand missile from Matt Brown put Chris Cope on the deck in their welterweight bout, and four blistering ground and pound shots sealed the deal at 1:19 of the second round.
The right hand that rocked Cope (5-4) caught him behind the ear.
“That’s exactly what I need to be doing,” Brown said of his knockout. “I got away from who I am. I’m back. I had always been trying out new things and this ain’t really the place to be trying them out. So enough of that. I got a right hand that will knock out anybody so I believe you’ll see more of that.” Watch Brown's post-fight interview
MATT RIDDLE VS. HENRY MARTINEZ
Sometimes you have to think that Matt Riddle just doesn’t give a damn about strategy and doing whatever it takes to win. Foremost for the free-spirited welterweight, is to put on a show for fans, snatch a Fight of The Night bonus and be involved in the bloodiest battle possible. The more damage, the better – even if Riddle is the punching bag. And that he was for most of the first round, when the much speedier Henry Martinez repeatedly cracked him with hard punching combinations, bloodying Riddle’s eyes, ears and nose.
Interesting to note is that Riddle is the much larger fighter, 6’1” to Martinez’s 5’7”. While Riddle is eating punches – and apparently enjoying it – you can’t help but wonder, “Why not throw more kicks?” “Why not mix it up with a little Muay Thai clinch or even some wrestling?” Why not put that much bigger body on the smaller fighter and make him carry your weight and maybe get tired down the stretch?”
Well, Riddle did adapt in round two, unloading with a much greater volume of hard kicks to Martinez’s body and head. Finally the Las Vegas transplant had broken the groove of Martinez, a very crisp boxer, who countered punches very well but could not stop the array of kicks coming his way. As a now-bleeding Martinez began to tire, Riddle amped up his assault and the two southpaws treated fans to toe-to-toe exchanges as the second round ended. Riddle did his best Ray Lewis impersonation on the way to his stool between rounds, screaming at the top of his lungs and imploring fans to get fired up.
In the third round, Riddle suddenly employed strategy, whacking Martinez with hard kicks to the leg and liver. Then he finally decided to put that big body on Martinez, taking him down and taking his back. Riddle would score another takedown and rain down with ground and pound as time expired, earning a split decision from judges by scores of 29-28, 29-28 and 28-29. Watch the post-fight interview here
MICHAEL KUIPER VS. RAFAEL NATAL
There were moments when Rafael Natal, a BJJ black belt, repeatedly outstruck newcomer Michael Kuiper, popping The Netherlands’ standup specialist with some solid right hands, scoring with leg kicks and even a spinning backfist. But it was Natal’s bread and butter – grappling – that cemented his unanimous decision victory and dealt Kuiper (11-1) his first professional loss.
The first round wasn’t a barnburner, but Natal scored five takedowns. He was reversed late in the round and ate a few shots on the bottom, but seemed to have done enough to win the round. In round two, fatigue seemed to afflict both fighters in what was mostly a standup battle that saw Natal possibly get the better of the exchanges (Kuiper just kept coming forward, with little head or lateral movement, and ate quite a few right hands as a consequence).
Seconds into the third, a Kuiper uppercut dropped the New York transplant to his knees. Kuiper swarmed on top but could not find the shots that would put away his woozy adversary. The second half of the round belonged to Natal, who somehow mustered the strength for an explosive slam, dominated with top position and threatened with an arm triangle as time expired.
After the fight, Natal spoke of the wicked right uppercut that rocked him.
“It was bad because it was the beginning of the round. I felt everything was dark,” said Natal, a Brazilian native who is now 14-3-1 and has won two straight in the UFC. “But my jiu-jitsu saved me again (when) I got him in the half-guard.” More from "Sapo" Natal
STEPHEN THOMPSON VS. DAN STITTGEN
For one fight at least, Stephen Thompson was as good as advertised. The highly-touted kempo karate and kickboxing ace showed remarkable poise and grace in his UFC debut, essentially toying with Dan Stittgen before putting him out cold with a roundhouse kick to the jaw. Unorthodox throughout, the lanky South Carolinian (6-0) patiently picked Stittgen (7-2) apart with a wide variety of kicks. Most interestingly, Thompson held his hands very low, almost daring Stittgen to be aggressive so he could counterattack. Yet Stittgen maintained a low punch volume. When the Illinois fighter did attack, he threw a left hook and stepped to his left – unwittingly walking right into a perfectly placed roundhouse to the jaw.
At 4:13 of round one, it was a wrap.
“No words can really describe it,” said the 28-year-old Thompson, unbeaten in 50-plus kickboxing fights as well. “Those round kicks, we use them a lot in Karate. They can pack a lot of power and people don’t see ‘em.” Watch Thompson's post-fight interview
Watch the UFC® replay now
Posted on 4 February 2012 | 1:00 am
If you want to define the pure essence of the word “fighter,” odds are that eventually you will find yourself face to face with the story of Nick Diaz.
In many ways, he’s been fighting since his days growing up in California, moving from school to school and always being the new kid. It’s a story shared by thousands, but few have taken it as far as Diaz has – to the main event of UFC 143 this Saturday and a shot at the interim welterweight title against fellow contender Carlos Condit.
But for all the media attention and scrutiny around the 28-year old from Stockton since his return to the UFC late last year, all you really need to define who Diaz is would be a look at his second pro fight in July of 2002 against Chris Lytle. Yeah, that Chris Lytle, who at the time was already a seasoned vet of the sport. But when Lytle’s original foe, Jake Shields, was forced from the fight due to a staph infection, it was his 18-year old teammate, Diaz, who stepped in.
“This guy had something like 20 fights,” said Diaz in an interview before his 2011 bout with BJ Penn. “Chris was fighting in Japan, he was ranked in Pancrase, he was way older than I was, and I was supposed to lose.”
But he didn’t. Instead, Diaz pounded out a three round split decision that earned him his first title, the IFC welterweight belt, and truly started him on a career that he has had a love-hate relationship ever since. And though a lot of water has gone under the bridge since that day, he still has fond memories of his first big win.
“I think I was a lot happier when I won back then,” he said. “It was more about proving myself. Back then I really had something to prove and I really needed to be more than what I was. After those fights, I felt established in all sorts of ways. It was good.”
“When people would hear about who I was, they would pretty much think I was full of s**t,” he continues. “And even after these fights they would think the same thing, but at least I would know I’m not, and it was just enough for me to keep going.”
A jiu-jitsu player since he was 15, and a pro MMA fighter from 18, Diaz has spent more than half his life in the sport that made him a worldwide star, one of the best welterweights on the planet, and perhaps the game’s most intriguing figure. It’s a trio of titles that Diaz could probably do without, well, at least two of the three, and when it comes to being the best in the world, Diaz would likely enjoy that title if he didn’t have to deal with all the miscellaneous distractions and requirements that come along with it, like media obligations, etc. But he has no apologies for who he is.
“With me, you get the real me, real martial arts and a real warrior mentality,” he said at the media workouts for his fight with Condit. “I don't act friends with anyone I am going to fight. That's crazy, I don’t understand that. Some people aren’t mature enough to understand I don’t want to put on an act for the cameras. I’m real. I’m acting natural, I don’t want to be friends around a guy I am about to fight.”
You could chalk up such comments to Diaz being a hard man in a hard sport, and his mean mugs, and trash talking and taunting during fights do little to dispel that image. But we may not be seeing the full picture of the enigmatic welterweight.
“I don’t know how I come off, but I don’t like to hurt people, first off,” he said last year. “You get these guys like ‘I’m going through a lot and I’m real pissed off and I’m ready to fight and I just want to hurt somebody.’ I don’t say that and I don’t feel that. I don’t want to hurt anybody; I don’t want anybody to be hurt. I want to win, I want to come out on top, and I want to be in an exciting fight because I worked hard, but I don’t necessarily want anyone to hurt. That’s what I don’t like about fighting. I like the competition, I love it, but I don’t love fighting for money, because it hurts people.”
It may be why Diaz has been fairly reclusive when it comes to the media, and why he wants to keep his day job and his personal life as two separate entities.
“I’m trying to separate life and MMA fighting because they’re really two different things for me and that’s kinda rough for me to deal with and it’s probably been my biggest problem, more than the fights,” he said. “It’s my challenge to separate the two.”
So when he falls short of succeeding in that challenge, he’s left with two things – training and fighting. And with 11 consecutive wins constituting an unbeaten streak that has lasted nearly four years, it’s obviously something that has worked for him professionally. Personally? That may be another tale to tell.
“I don’t have any life, I don’t have anything else going on,” he said. “All these other people are like ‘oh, I have a wife and kids now.’ I don’t have any of that. I screwed all that potential stuff I had going for that up way back when I was too busy training to fight and acting crazy to train. Now I don’t really like the idea of changing what’s been working for me right now. So as long as I’m fighting, I don’t see things changing for me.”
Especially not with an interim title shot and the prospect of fighting current champion Georges St-Pierre right at his doorstep. But first he has to get by Condit, an equally hungry contender who has earned Diaz’ respect.
“He’s the next guy I need to prove myself against,” said Diaz. “We are both top level and we win by doing damage, not by trying to score points. He has a realistic fighting style like I do. Carlos is a very well rounded guy. He’s tough and it will be a fight.”
If Diaz emerges victorious on Saturday night, he will once again be the center of attention, something that has seemingly plagued him for years, but never more than when he missed two press conferences for a proposed fight with St-Pierre last year and saw the fight scrapped. He was eventually brought back into the fold for his UFC 137 bout with Penn, which he won via unanimous decision, and is now slated for Saturday’s matchup with Condit, which was originally going to be the GSP fight until the champion injured his knee and was sent to the sidelines. But during all of this, Diaz became mixed martial arts’ anti-hero, the most interesting man in the world not appearing in beer commercials.
It’s everything that he didn’t want, but with another stellar performance, the focus will be on his fighting and not everything else that he’s already put to the side to focus on his craft. On Saturday night, he could make his case for being the best welterweight in the MMA world, something that will only be proven as fact should he beat Condit AND St-Pierre. But he already has an endorsement from boxing’s best at 168 pounds, super middleweight champ Andre Ward.
“I've worked (sparred) with Nick and his brother Nate in the past,” said Ward, who was recently named 2011 Fighter of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association of America. “Both are extremely good boxers, and have a great feel for standup boxing. Nick specifically, is left handed, tough as nails and physically strong. That's why we work with him. I like Nick Diaz in an Octagon against anyone. I also feel he could compete in a boxing ring, if he so chooses.”
That’s the kind of respect Diaz wants. He’s not interested in photo shoots, autograph signings, or the bright lights. This is a fight. And if everyone else hasn’t figured that out yet, that’s not his problem.
“This isn't soccer, it’s fighting,” he said. “I've got no problem that this is a sporting event and being respectful, but it is a fight. It is what it is. It matters how I am seen by fans; sometimes I care, sometimes I don't, but when I think about it, I try to be real.”
Posted on 3 February 2012 | 1:00 am
You had to hear it to believe it, and even then it was shocking. Hundreds, maybe thousands of British fans were firing back at American Chris Cope with the “Woooo” yell that has become his trademark (via pro wrestling legend Ric Flair) as he walked to the Octagon to face home country favorite Che Mills at UFC 138 last November. It was one of those moments that only sports can provide, and The Ultimate Fighter 13’s Cope has an idea why fans from another continent were buying in to what he represented.
“Here’s the thing, and I’m not trying to sound cocky or arrogant, but I’m kinda like a Rudy, and how can you not like the underdog?” said Cope, referring to Rudy Ruettiger, the walk-on for the Notre Dame football team whose story was immortalized in the film “Rudy.” “Forrest Griffin is never gonna be known as a spectacular, crazy fighter, but that guy provides the average Joe with hope because he’s a guy who came from grass roots, he worked hard and trained hard and now he’s in the UFC and he’s one of the poster boys.”
Already 1-0 in the UFC with an impressive win over TUF13 castmate Chuck O’Neil in June of last year, Cope was in the process of building his own success story until a crushing knee sent him to the canvas and kicked off a sequence that saw him stopped in 40 seconds by Mills. Yet as he walked back out into the LG Arena to watch the rest of the event, once again he was stunned by what happened.
“I got laid out in that fight,” he said. “I got caught with a knee 40 seconds in, and I was embarrassed as hell. I knew I was going up against a really good fighter and I knew that things could happen even though I’ve never been caught like that before. It is what it is, and it happened. But I remember going back to the locker room and then coming back out to sit down, and they all wanted autographs. They all wanted pictures. I’m like ‘guys, I lost; I got caught in there, why do you want my autograph?’ They said ‘We don’t care. We love you, you’re great.’ That made me feel good because it made me really feel like it doesn’t matter whether I win or lose because these people have got my back. I call it the Woo Nation. I do it, they do it, and when I fight, I’m not just fighting by myself. They’re in there fighting with me.”
This Saturday at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, odds are that the Woo Nation will be out in force again to back their man when he faces Matt Brown in one of those fights that promises action.
“I think he’s a very tough guy, he comes out to fight very hard right off the bat, he’s got very good striking, underrated submissions off his back, and he’s a gamer,” said Cope of Brown. “He comes to fight, and he’s always very dangerous. I’m a fan of his and I’ve got nothing but respect for him.”
There’s also plenty on the line for both men. Cope, still relatively inexperienced with eight pro fights, is coming off the loss to Mills, which puts him at 1-1 in the Octagon. Brown is 1-4 in his last five, making a win imperative. But regardless of what’s at stake, Cope has never strayed from a path of work, work, work.
“I’m a grinder,” said Cope, who does paralegal work at a Southern California law firm in addition to his fighting career. “I wake up at six in the morning, I’m at work by seven. My lunch break is training, I train and then I go back to work, I leave at four. And then I basically go to pro practice from 4:15 to 5:30, then I work another hour with a trainer from 5:30 to 6:30, then either run or do strength and conditioning after that. I don’t know what it is about me, but if you’re gonna build a wall of success, you build it one brick at a time. And all those practices add up.”
For him, that’s the key, just being consistent and working harder than the next guy.
“People saw me on The Ultimate Fighter, and they didn’t think I was that good,” he said. “And you might be better than me, you might be faster than me, and you might be more athletically gifted than me, but when you’re missing sessions, I’m not. I’m in the gym, and come hell or high water, I’m getting those three goals.”
Three goals?
“I’ve got three goals in this thing, and once I do those, I’m done. One of them is to fight for the UFC, and I’ve done that. The second is to fight in Japan. The third one is to win a belt, and if I can do it in the UFC, that’s the number one dream come true. And once I get those three, I’m out.”
If Cope sounds like he’s got everything together at the age of 28, that would be an accurate assessment. But it wasn’t always that way for him.
“My dad used to be a narcotics cop, and when I was growing up, he always told me that he’d disown me if he ever caught me on drugs, and the whole time I was growing up, when kids were getting involved with weed and ecstasy, and after graduation, cocaine, I never messed around with it,” he said. “Alcohol was the one thing, and I’m like ‘it’s no big deal; it’s legal, I’m fine doing this.’ Well, lo and behold, in my opinion it’s one of the most destructive drugs out there. Almost every time there’s a murder, or an accident, or sometimes a fight, usually alcohol’s involved. It’s America’s drug.”
And Cope bought into it hook, line, and sinker, using alcohol as a means to fit in with the crowd his father warned him about.
“I thought I was the cool guy,” he said. “I graduated from UCSB (Cal-Santa Barbara) and Playboy rated it like the number two or three party school in the country. And the college parties I threw were out of a movie. I thought I was awesome and the coolest party guy ever.”
But after getting picked up by the police on three misdemeanors (vandalism, public intoxication, and resisting arrest), Cope began to see that he was headed in the wrong direction.
“For the first time in my life, I saw myself on the other end of the legal system, and I didn’t like that at all,” he said, “But I still kept drinking for a couple years.”
All the while, his pro MMA career was taking off, and when he got called to Las Vegas to be interviewed by producers for season 13 of The Ultimate Fighter in 2010, it was party time for the 4-1 Cope.
“I was faded, and that was 11 in the morning the next day,” he recalled. But when he got home to San Diego, he took a good, hard look at himself and didn’t like what he saw.
“I was embarrassed about myself,” he said. “I said enough’s enough. I’m done. I quit. And that was December 8th, 2010.”
More than 13 months later, he’s still sober.
“I used to call myself an alcoholic and I don’t call myself that anymore,” he said. “I just say that I’m a person that doesn’t really have a kill switch. It doesn’t define who I am, it’s just an aspect of my life, and I just keep going. It (alcohol) didn’t add anything to my life. It really alienated people from me, it caused me to blow a lot of my money, and I would guarantee that if I was drinking on that Ultimate Fighter show and got drunk on there, I wouldn’t be in the position that I’m in now. Life couldn’t be better now and I’m glad I did it.”
If that’s not a reason to become a full-fledged member of Woo Nation, I don’t know what is. And if you’re looking to count someone out of a fight, Chris Cope is probably not that guy, because no matter what the final result is, he’s already won.
“You can play in small in life, or you can play big, but to play big, you’ve got to get on the field,” he said. “And when you get on the field, you might win or lose, but you still got on the field and played ball.”
Posted on 3 February 2012 | 1:00 am
It's been a good week for The Downes Side: I went 5-0 with my FOX picks bringing me to 9 wins in a row. My Chicago homecoming went off almost flawlessly (save a lowlight in which an entire family of four flipped me off on my way to the arena). That's my biggest victory streak since I won the Vocabulary Bee in Mrs. Florian’s 6th grade classroom 11 weeks in a row.
I’ll get another shot at glory this week as the UFC rolls into Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay for UFC 143. The main event is my fellow wordsmith Nick Diaz facing Carlos Condit for the interim welterweight title.
Ed Herman vs Clifford Starks
Ed "Short Fuse" Herman has looked great coming off a nearly two-year layoff from a knee injury with quick wins over Tim Credeur and Kyle Noke. Clifford Starks is another example of the old adage, “Only two things come from Arizona State: drunk college girls and UFC wrestlers.” He made his debut last October with a weigh-in wardrobe malfunction followed by a decision win.
Prediction: Starks is a great wrestler, but Herman's superior striking and submission games will be too much for him. Starks has the potential to grind out a decision, but I’m sticking with the ginger. When you don’t have a soul, you have nothing to lose, and Herman takes this middleweight melee by 2nd round TKO.
Renan Barao vs Scott Jorgenson
Next we have Renan Barao pitted against Scotty “Young Guns” Jorgensen to determine who'll be at the top of the bantamweight heap in the post-Cruz/Faber 3 universe. Jorgensen is searching for another shot while Barao wants to increase his unbeaten streak to 30 straight (showoff).
Prediction: This is my favorite for Fight of the Night. While Barao has the speed advantage, Young Guns’ strength and wrestling can neutralize that. Expect a wild back-and-forth fight with Jorgensen’s grappling taking over as the fight progresses. Scotty will get his takedowns, ground and pound and put on the second best show of the weekend (the first obviously being Puppy Bowl VIII).
Josh Koscheck vs Mike Pierce
In the main card's first welterweight war, irrepressible instigator Josh Koscheck faces off against Mike Pierce, who got the fight by publicly calling out Kos. Both fighters are coming off recent wins and have solid wrestling backgrounds. Koscheck is looking to get back into the welterweight title talk while Pierce gets a taste of the spotlight with a high-profile opponent.
Prediction: Despite being a former Division I wrestler, Pierce has struggled against other wrestlers whose first names start with J (see his fights against Jon Fitch and Johny Hendricks). Pierce has never been stopped, but that streak ends tonight. Koscheck will go for the takedown immediately, get position and go HAM. He’ll look great, then ruin all the goodwill he earned with a solid black-hat performance in the post-fight interview. Koscheck wins via first-round TKO
Roy Nelson vs Fabricio Werdum
After his Strikeforce sojourn, Fedor-beater Fabricio Werdum returns to the UFC with a heavyweight showdown against Roy “Big Country” Nelson. As for Nelson, after two disappointing losses to Junior Dos Santos and Frank Mir that made Big Country reexamine his lovable pudginess, he rebounded with a win against Mirko Cro Cop.
Prediction: Big Country may not be as fat and lovable as he used to, but losing weight hasn’t
slowed down Seth Rogen’s career and it won’t hurt our favorite mulleted
heavyweight, either. Werdum wants this fight to go to the ground, but Roy has the striking ability to keep him on the outside. Big Country keeps the distance and nickel-and-dimes Werdum to a decision win.
Nick Diaz vs Carlos Condit
The main event features everyone’s favorite anti-social fighter against a guy who's surprisingly mild-mannered for being a “Natural Born Killer.” Full disclosure: Nick Diaz is a friend of mine. And by friend, I mean that I once saw him in a Whole Foods in Las Vegas and talked to him for five minutes. But he didn’t call me a punk-ass bitch and we both use the same salad dressing so it’s clear that we’re very much alike.
Prediction: Condit has the wrestling advantage, but I imagine these two will stand toe to toe with one another. Condit says that he plans on testing Diaz’ chin, and that’s usually a recipe for disaster (see Diaz vs. Daley, Diaz vs. Lawler, etc). The 209 will outwork the NBK - Diaz wins the decision after five rounds and becomes the number-one source of pride for Stockton. Take that, Asparagus Festival!
Sadly, that brings an end to this edition of the Downes Side. If you can’t get enough of me, follow me on Twitter @dannyboydownes and add some comments and I’ll respond. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go place my bets for the game. For what it’s worth, my money is on Leroy Brown.
Check out Danny's previous predictions for UFC on Fox.
Posted on 3 February 2012 | 1:00 am
Saturday night can’t get here soon enough for Carlos Condit.
After spending the final four months of 2011 in what felt like a constant state of limbo, the 27-year-old will finally get to switch from hitting mitts with coach Mike Winkeljohn to putting his considerable talents to work in the cage. In a fitting twist of fate, Condit will get to take out the frustrations he’s endured against the man who has been at the root of many of them.
Rewind to September: Condit was slated to face UFC legend BJ. Penn in the co-main event of UFC 137, a bout that would be followed by Diaz challenging Georges St-Pierre for the welterweight title.
But when Diaz missed a string of media obligations, UFC President Dana White made a change, demoting Diaz from the main event, and elevating Condit. The man known as “The Natural Born Killer” broke down in tears on the phone when White told him the news.
Just 11 days before he was set to fight for the UFC welterweight title, Condit’s dream was put on hold. St-Pierre tweaked his knee in training; their bout was rescheduled for UFC 143, the annual Super Bowl weekend show. Diaz and Penn headlined UFC 137 instead, with Condit assured the outcome of the main event would not have an impact on his upcoming title fight.
On October 29, Diaz battered Penn before throwing down the gauntlet for GSP, questioning the legitimacy of his injury, trying to talk his way back into the fight he lost a month early. By the time White took the podium for the post-fight press conference, Condit’s fight calendar needed adjusting once again.
“There’s been a lot of ups and downs; a lot of excitement and disappointment,” admitted the former WEC welterweight champion. “It’s been crazy, as anybody looking from the outside can imagine. I think I’ve done a pretty good job of focusing on what I need to do — which is train and be prepared for whoever I end up fighting — and this time it ended up being Diaz.”
After shuffling places twice in the last six months, Condit and Diaz will now pair off, a torn ACL sending St-Pierre to the sidelines and the surgical table. With the date of his return to the cage uncertain, the top two welterweight contenders will battle for an interim version of the 170-pound championship on Saturday night.
It’s a fight that has been a long time coming for the 27-5 native of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
“I’m stoked to be done with camp. I’m stoked to be finally stepping out there to do what I’ve been training to do for the last six months: to go out there and fight, compete to the best of my abilities.”
While Diaz began his second stint in the UFC with much fanfare and an immediate shot at the welterweight title, Condit has quietly been working his way up the 170-pound ranks.
The last welterweight champion in WEC history, he lost a razor-thin decision to Martin Kampmann in his debut, coming out on the right side of the verdict against Jake Ellenberger in his second Octagon appearance. A come-from-behind victory over Rory MacDonald at UFC 115 caused people to start taking notice, and a first-round knockout of Dan Hardy in his own backyard announced Condit as a potential contender, though he remained behind some of the more established names in the company.
“It’s hard to get out from under the shadow of these guys like (Jon) Fitch, and (Josh) Koscheck, and maybe even Thiago Alves — guys that have been in the division for years and years and years, and all had great wins.”
But now is Condit’s turn in the spotlight.
His savage first round destruction of Dong Hyun Kim was his fourth consecutive victory, the second straight bout that he’s earned Knockout of the Night honors, and the third consecutive contest to produce a post-fight bonus. Though it looked like the gods were against him, Condit’s patience and perseverance has been rewarded, and he’s ready to make the most of it.
“This is a fight I’ve wanted for a really long time, and the fact that it’s happening now, after all this turmoil and craziness with the change of opponents and everything, it really couldn’t have worked out better.
“I think that styles make fights, and I think that this style match-up is going to be extremely exciting. It’s a very tough fight; Nick’s one of the best in the welterweight division. I think there are some guys stylistically that could probably beat him, but I think the matchup between us — we’re very evenly matched. We have similar skill sets, maybe a little bit different approach — different style — but it’s exciting.”
The 28-year-old Diaz is on an 11-fight winning streak that includes nine stoppages, with victories over the likes of Frank Shamrock, KJ Noons, Paul Daley, and Penn. An enigma outside of the cage, Diaz is all business when the lights go up and the fight begins, blending tremendous boxing with a slick submission game.
He’s also adept at shaking his opponents with a barrage of pre-fight banter, an ability and instinctual talent he’s passed on to his younger brother Nathan as well. Condit is prepared for it all — the boxing, the jiu-jitsu, and the verbal jabs.
“Nick likes to get in your head, talk a lot of trash, so I need to stay composed, and step in with the attitude that I always do; just be about my business, and not get sucked into all that other stuff. I just have to fight my fight. No matter what an opponent says or how much trash they talk, I get the opportunity to go in there and beat him down. I can just hold my tongue and let it build, and as soon as the cage door closes, it’s game time.”
Condit knows he’s in for a battle, but he’s ready, and confident that if he sticks to the game plan, he’ll emerge from Saturday’s headliner as the interim UFC welterweight champion.
“Nick is probably the toughest guy I’ve ever fought. He’s an endurance athlete — he puts tons and tons of pressure on guys — and he’s got some really good skills with his hands; his jiu-jitsu’s great.
“But I just really need to fight my fight. If I do that, I feel like I’m going to walk away with the belt.”
Posted on 3 February 2012 | 1:00 am
UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit
Nick Diaz Works Out With His Brother Nate At UFC 143 http://fb.me/1jUgmzb1x (@DiazBrothers209) -Diaz Brothers
Just picked up my crackin new custom suit from @D2Kill in downtown ABQ http://pic.twitter.com/wKEl223D (@CarlosCondit) -Carlos Condit
I'm in Las Vegas for @UFC 143! So who do you think takes it: Condit or Diaz? (@GeorgesStPierre) -Georges St-Pierre
PR week almost over, and the fight actual starts tomorrow. Thanks for the supports. (@roynelsonmma) -Roy Nelson
All I have 2 say! Enjoy the show. Feb 4 PPV don't miss it #ufc http://instagr.am/p/mbndo/ (@JoshKoscheck) -Josh Koscheck
KOS, I agree with you. You should start looking to beef up you're resume now. These guys can help: resumesplanet.com (@MikePierce170) -Mike Pierce
Almost game time! (@cliffordstarks1) -Clifford Starks
Make sure to Catch me on UFC 143 Prelims by watching it on Facebook! It's FREE and in the comfort of your own house...Time to Conquer (@dantheanvil) -Dan Stittgen
I find myself relating to Diaz after watching the Primetime special. (@KCBanditMMA) -Jason High
That was a quick trip to LA, always get a bunch done here. Headed 2 Vegas @DiazBrothers209 & @CarlosCondit is gonna b epic! 2 bad dudes! (@UrijahFaber) -Urijah Faber
Look What You Started, Pat Barry!
@DustinPoirier hitting a PLANK on our way to cut weight at the Palms!! Rep ping that UFC Brand! #ufc143 http://pic.twitter.com/wb5KBGS2 (@TimCredeur) -Crazy Tim Credeur
WWW.SkypeAMonkey.com
I wish monkeys could Skype.... ... Maybe one day :-/ (@J_Brookins) -Jonathan Brookins
Right!
so this guy tells @badboygarcia and I that he fought. I asked "how'd you do?" the guy said "medium, but I felt dirty afterward" ? Wtf right (@DUANEBANGCOM) -Duane Ludwig
WEC Never Forget
We keep it #WECVintage over here, both tryin to do big thingsRT @Sholler_UFC: @jamievarner @SMOOTHone155 little WEC reunion over there?Nice! (@SMOOTHone155) -Benson Henderson
Gladiator Man Never Forget
Looking forward to seeing the new @ufc intro everyone is talking about!!! #RIPgladiatorman (@JoeB135) -Joseph Benavidez
Smile. It Makes People Wonder What You’re Up To
:) (@LouGaudinotUFC) -Louis Gaudinot
:) (@DanaWhite) -Dana White
Prank the Frank
Frankie Edgar gets PRANKED! http://bit.ly/xF1pfT @FrankieEdgar @Almeidabjj @mmanytt @AliDominance @RenzoGracieBJJ @ufc (@AkiraCorassani) -Akira Corassani
Ear-y Tweets
I never seen cauliflower ear on a girl..@rondarousey What do u guys think hot or not? http://pic.twitter.com/XVGFJe79 (@SugaRashadEvans) -Rashad Evans
@SugaRashadEvans thanks, it was nice meeting you ... Despite you making fun of my ears ;) (@RondaRousey) -Ronda Rousey
Whenever someone starts to tell me something I always say "I'm all ears" even though I'm technically only 40% ears (@ForrestGriffin) -Forrest Griffin
Stylish Outcasts at the Dogpark
Being anti social at the dog park ... We are the kids in the corner smoking cigarets http://pic.twitter.com/KGfhxUAT (@Unclecreepymma) -Ian McCall
You’re Not Alone, Bro.
So I think @UFC_Undisputed 3 is gonna be my date for Valentines Day #imaNerd @ufc (@CubSwanson) -Cub Swanson
Showtime Fired Up
Can't sleep after watching UFC fights!!! Can't wait for Japan.... #fb (@Showtimepettis) -Anthony Pettis
Can’t Keep a Good Mexicutioner Down!
Well when you fight the way I do stuff like that can happen. Props to @lavarjohnson for the win. Not sure what's next for me but I'll be ok. (@mexicutioner760) -Joey Beltran
Posted on 3 February 2012 | 1:00 am
Light heavyweights Thiago Silva and Brandon "The Truth" Vera have verbally agreed to wrap up some unfinished business this May in Fairfax, VA. "Their last fight ended up a no contest and both guys are out to prove that they are the better man," said UFC president Dana White.
Verbal agreements are also in for a middleweight matchup at that event between "Filthy" Tom Lawlor and Jason "The Athlete" MacDonald.
The bouts will take place at the just-announced third UFC on FX event, tentatively scheduled for May 15 in Fairfax, Virginia. More details including venue information and ticket on-sales will be announced in coming weeks.
Posted on 2 February 2012 | 1:00 am
If your last impression of Fabricio Werdum is seeing him knocked out by future UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos back in October of 2008, you’ve got a lot of catching up to do, and the Brazilian, who returns to the UFC this Saturday night to face off against Roy Nelson at UFC 143 in Las Vegas, will be the first to admit that he’s a changed man, in and out of the Octagon.
“Everything changed in my life,” said Werdum. “Now I'm with a stronger camp, I'm with my master (Rafael Cordeiro) and close to my family. That time was not a good time in my personal life, but now I'm 100% in every aspect.”
And that’s not just talk to explain away what, at the time, was a shocking defeat. Practically no one knew who dos Santos was when he made his UFC debut that night in Illinois, and Werdum, who was coming off back-to-back knockout wins over Gabriel Gonzaga and Brandon Vera, was widely considered to be one of the world’s elite heavyweights, But a single uppercut ended Werdum’s night at the 81 second mark of the first round, sending him out of the organization while propelling dos Santos up the ladder on the way to the title.
The loss easily could have signaled the start of a decline for the native of Porto Alegre, Brazil, but instead, he got back in the gym and began reinventing himself, eventually winding up in Southern California with former Chute Boxe guru Rafael Cordeiro. By 2009, Werdum had signed with the Strikeforce organization, debuting in August of that year with an 84 second submission win over Mike Kyle. Three months later he decisioned countryman Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva, but it wasn’t until June of 2010 that he made the MMA world sit up and take notice again.
That night at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Werdum needed just 69 seconds to hand the seemingly unstoppable Fedor Emelianenko his first loss in nearly a decade, and what many considered the first legitimate defeat of the Russian’s fabled career.
A June 2011 matchup with a man he defeated in 2006, Alistair Overeem, followed, and though he lost a unanimous decision to the current number one contender, he showed that he could stand with a former K-1 Grand Prix champion and even hold his own. It’s something the decorated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt is proud of.
“I'm training everyday with my master Rafael Cordeiro, a few months ago I got my black belt in Muay Thai, and I'm ready to strike the whole time if I need to.”
And though he was doing well in Strikeforce, Werdum always felt that there was unfinished business for him in the UFC, and he expected that one day, he would get a call back to the Octagon.
“That was one of my biggest motivations to train every day,” he said, and soon, his patience would pay off as he got re-signed to the promotion and tasked with facing Nelson this Saturday.
“Every fighter that is part of UFC is here for some reason,” said Werdum. “Roy Nelson is a good boxer and good grappler, but I'm ready for him and to prove my value in the Octagon. I'm very happy to be back, this is an opportunity that I was waiting for a long time and now I'm ready to take it.”
Frankly, the timing couldn’t be any better for “Vai Cavalo,” as a win over “Big Country” will likely shoot him straight into the title picture, where currently two familiar faces – dos Santos and Overeem – are preparing to battle it out for the belt later this year. So, any pick from the fighter who may know them better than most?
“For sure it will be a great fight for the fans,” said Werdum. “They are both top fighters and I'm excited to see both of them back in the Octagon in the near future.”
Okay, that didn’t work out. How about this: any preference for an opponent, should he get a title shot soon?
“No, I just will look for my title shot against anyone that will be in my way. This is a very good division, with so many good fighters, and I will look for my spotlight and my way for the title.”
Well, for what Werdum lacks in calling out opponents, he makes up in fighting skill, and at 34, the Brazilian veteran feels better than ever as he makes his welcome return.
“I'm feeling faster and stronger, with more skills and experience, and I’m ready to go. The fans should expect a great show, and for sure a new and very hungry Werdum, ready to put a show on for them.”
Posted on 2 February 2012 | 1:00 am
Josh Koscheck doesn’t seem to be the type for New Year’s resolutions, and while he doesn’t describe it as such, his mantra for 2012 definitely has that feel to it.
“My saying this year is that I can do anything for 15 minutes,” said the longtime welterweight contender. “15 minutes of life is a very short period of time, and I truly believe I can do anything for 15 minutes. When I’m old and looking back at this I’m gonna say ‘I was a crazy dude, getting in there and fighting somebody, what the hell was I thinking?’ (Laughs) But right now, I’m young, I still got a lot of fight left in me, and I think I’m in a good place in life. And when you feel like you’re in a good place in life, good things happen to you.”
Koscheck’s optimism is well-placed. This time last year, he was coming off a five round championship loss to Georges St-Pierre that left him with a broken orbital bone. But after healing up and knocking out UFC Hall of Famer Matt Hughes last September, he put himself right back into contention heading into this weekend’s bout against always tough Mike Pierce, a fighter who surprised many by calling Koscheck out for the fight. “Kos” wasn’t surprised though, claiming that making noise on Twitter was the only way Pierce would get a big fight, and grudgingly, he admits the Portland native isn’t bad at the trash talk game he’s mastered.
“He’s doing a good job, I guess, for a young lad,” smirked Koscheck. “I just want to fight, and obviously nobody in the weight class would step up, so I guess I gotta fight this guy and put him in his place.”
Fighting’s the fun part for Koscheck, one of the UFC’s most active competitors, with 19 Octagon bouts already under his belt. After Saturday night, he’ll be just six away from tying Tito Ortiz’ record for most UFC fights, a remarkable accomplishment in itself for the 34-year old, but not the one he’s truly after.
“The belt’s always the important thing,” he said. “That’s what I want, but hopefully they make the winner of the (Nick) Diaz-(Carlos) Condit fight fight one more time because Georges is gonna be out for quite a while. So hopefully I get a crack at that interim title and hopefully I’ll smack whoever has that belt around and then me and Georges can get a chance to fight again.”
After going 0-2 against GSP in their first two outings, a third bout seems to be a distant prospect for the Pennsylvania native, but hope is part of the motivation process in any sport, and it helps keep him moving forward. If it doesn’t happen, will Koscheck be trudging up to Montreal when he’s 75, still looking for redemption?
He laughs.
“The first time he outwrestled me, the second time he cracked me the eye with a jab and I couldn’t see for 25 minutes, and I tried to tough it out just to give the fans what they paid for and I tried to win the fight regardless,” said Koscheck. “So I definitely think we have some unfinished business, but I hope I’m not 75 and still taking my walker or wheelchair up to Canada to get Georges to fight. Who knows? Hopefully, we can just settle it when we’re 75 by playing cards or doing wheelchair races if I don’t get another opportunity with him.”
There is pressing business before that though, and plenty of intriguing matchups for Koscheck at 170 pounds, beginning with Pierce in Las Vegas. That’s enough for him to put his body through more weeks of suffering to get the payoff on fight night, especially after a 2011 campaign that saw him compete just once.
“It feels good to be back fighting,” he said. “It’s what I like to do and I enjoy getting in front of the people and putting on a show. It’s better to be fighting than it is to be training. The training aspect of it is dead awful. It seems like Groundhog Day every single day. I get up in the morning at 10:40, I eat my cup of oatmeal, red cup, white spoon, half a cup of oatmeal, put honey on it, get my protein shake, get my towel, put my stuff in my training bag and walk out the door and drive to training. I do my training for two hours, come home, get my eggs, get my chicken, take an hour nap, and right back to the training at seven o’clock. I come home after that, eat, and go to bed. The training aspect of it sucks, but I enjoy the fighting aspect way more and I can’t wait to get in there and fight.”
Yet despite that monotony, Koscheck hasn’t strayed from Northern California and his relationship with the AKA Fight Team, the squad that has been with him from the start.
“There’s that old saying, if it’s not broke, why fix it?” he said. “I’ve been pretty content where I’m at, and the only reason I’m still where I’m at is because of the training partners I have. I really believe that those guys are the guys that got me here, and if you have guys of the caliber that I have to train with every day, those are the guys that have been there and have made me as successful as I am.”
This is true, but when it comes down to it, Koscheck is the one that has to make that walk to the Octagon, something that he revels in while others get frozen under the bright lights. What separates him from the pack?
“I think a lot of it comes from my background and how I’ve grown up and what I expect from myself as a person,” he said. “I think I definitely like going out there and putting pressure on myself and competing at the highest level, and it’s one of the things I’ve said throughout my career – I’m fighting in front of millions of people; why would I want to go out there and get embarrassed, when you can go out there and put on a show and succeed? Obviously not every fight in my career has always went my way – I’ve lost some and I’ve won some. And the good thing is that I’ve won more than I’ve lost. (Laughs) So I’m in a good place in life and I’m in a position where I don’t need to fight. I fight because I like it and because I want to fight and because I still have a lot to prove. Financially, I can probably stop fighting and be fine with it and worry about my gyms, and my apartments, and about the rentals that I have, and stuff like that, and be cool and just scale back my lifestyle. But I live a certain lifestyle that I’ve become accustomed to, and I love to do, so why not fight? It’s an easy way to make a lot of money.”
Being content could equate to losing some of that hunger that got you to the top before though. Koscheck doesn’t believe that’s the case with him.
“Just being content doesn’t mean I don’t want more,” he said. “More money is always good, more wins are always good. At the end of the day, it’s all about being content, and putting yourself in a position to go out there and relax and have fun with it. If I’m not having fun in this sport, by God, I’m gonna be looking for a new job. This sport takes a lot of time and a lot of effort, and if I’m not having fun with it, why put yourself through the misery.”
Why indeed? But after the rigors of training, the endless interviews, and everything else, Koscheck has 15 minutes to punch Mike Pierce in the face. And like he said, he can do anything for 15 minutes.
“If I can’t beat Mike Pierce, I better consider finding a new career or just fighting for paychecks. I gotta put it on him and prove a point to this young guy and all the young guys that think they’re gonna call me out.”
Posted on 2 February 2012 | 1:00 am
As a student of the martial arts since he was three years old, it’s safe to say that Stephen Thompson and his four siblings were born to throw punches and kicks under the tutelage of their father Ray. Not that it was a choice for the Thompson kids.
In fact, in what may be the oddest analogy ever, like the Amish, you did what you were told and followed the rules of the road until you reached a certain age where you would decide whether to continue with life the way it was, or break free.
Stephen rebelled a little early, around the age of 10.
“Growing up, there was a point there when I hated karate just because I had to do it,” he said. “Living in a family of martial artists, it was something that was required until we got to a certain age. And until I saw the benefits that martial arts have given me and other people, I really started to love it. One day it was like a light bulb clicked in my head and I understood what I was doing and what my dad was doing for us.”
So when his “Rumspringa” day, so to speak, came, he wasn’t about to walk away. He was going to be a lifer, as were his two brothers and two sisters.
It didn’t hurt that he was one of the best in the world at the craft chosen for him. When everything was tallied up, Simpsonville, South Carolina’s Thompson was a combined (pro and amateur) 56-0 with 39 KOs as a kickboxer, a staggering record that put him in rarefied air in that neighborhood of combat sports.
But being the best wasn’t enough, and so Thompson decided that he wanted to take a stab at another combat sport, mixed martial arts. It was a risky move, but “Wonderboy” believes that to be considered the best fighter in the world, you need to excel at all areas of fighting.
“I just wanted to do something new, something different,” he said. “My goal was to be the best fighter. And kickboxing wasn’t as popular, and in order to be the best fighter, I was gonna have to switch to MMA. I’ve been doing this my whole life, since I was three, and it’s my life – it’s a lifestyle. I eat, sleep and breathe it, and I love it.”
Turning pro in 2010, Thompson quickly compiled a 5-0 record on the local circuit, and after Mike Stumpf fell injured and was forced from this Saturday’s UFC 143 card against Justin Edwards, the 28-year old got the call to step in. Edwards would later be pulled as well due to injury, with Thompson now facing Dan Stittgen in Las Vegas. If it sounds like a whirlwind, it has been, but with years of competition behind him, adjusting shouldn’t be a problem for Thompson. What may be odd is being considered the rookie after years of being the toughest kid on the playground. But the grounded former kickboxer is embracing that part of this new journey.
“I’m usually not the type of person that boasts about things, ‘yeah, I was a world champion kickboxer, blah, blah, blah,’” he said. “So I’m just going with the flow right now. Being at the top in another sport and then moving into MMA, you’re down at the bottom of the pool, and that’s what makes it interesting; that’s what makes it fun for me, to work my way back up. It’s a challenge, and that’s what I like.”
What will also be a challenge is dealing with the nuts and bolts difficulties of having a reputation like his. When you’re a guy who never lost a kickboxing match, odds are pretty strong that opponents’ first thought will be to shoot for the ankles as soon as the bell rings. It’s a fact of MMA life Thompson has accepted.
“It’s probably going to be like that until we get up to the higher level,” he said. “Even now, everyone I fought in MMA tried to take me down. And if I do get a guy that’s gonna strike with me, that’s a plus, but I know that just about every guy I’m gonna fight is gonna want to take me down. I’ve already got that set in my head, and we’ve been working on my wrestling and jiu-jitsu every day.”
To that end, he’s got some pretty good help from his brother-in-law, who just happens to be the renowned jiu-jitsu practitioner Carlos Machado. And Thompson is more than used to getting a dose of tough love on the mat from Machado and some of his top students.
“I’m used to my brother-in-law and some of his upper belts just schooling me on the ground,” he said. “But that’s the way you learn, and that’s what I did when I first started striking.”
And even though he’s dialed back his striking in order to work his ground game and takedown defense, it’s a necessary process for him if he wants to avoid being dumped to the mat by his opponents.
“I’m not doing my striking as much, though I fill in just to make sure everything stays sharp,” he said. “I’ve been doing wrestling and jiu-jitsu for years, but just mainly focusing on that because I know those guys want to get me on the ground. This is a big stage for me. The UFC is top-notch, and the guys that I’m fighting are gonna be on their game everywhere. So I’ve just got to make sure that my wrestling and my jiu-jitsu’s there, so I’m definitely working on that more than my striking. And actually, I like my wrestling better than my jiu-jitsu. Obviously I want to keep it on my feet, I want to keep it standing, and I’m working on my jiu-jitsu every day too, but I love my wrestling because that’s what keeps me able to keep it standing. These guys are shooting for my legs, and my wrestling defense is what’s gonna keep me on my feet so I can knock these guys out.”
That’s really what everyone wants to see from Thompson, and should he find a welterweight willing to stand with him, it will certainly produce fireworks. But if not, that’s okay, because this isn’t a lark for him; it’s been his life, and in a way, it’s all been for this – to perform on the biggest stage in combat sports and show what his father Ray taught him.
“I’ve been doing this since I was three years old, and I would say that everything that I’ve done in the past has been leading me up to this,” he said. “My dad knew what he was doing when he was younger and had me starting my full contact training when I was 12. Even though my striking was what I was focusing on at an earlier age, I still was doing my wrestling, and I still was doing my jiu-jitsu, because that’s what Kempo is all about.”
As former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida would say, “Karate’s back.”
Posted on 2 February 2012 | 1:00 am
The squeaky wheel gets oiled. Mike Pierce knows that now, and he kinda likes the whole idea.
“It was kinda nice when you ask for something and you get it,” said Pierce, who took to Twitter in December to ask UFC President Dana White and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta for a February 4th matchup with Josh Koscheck. Well, he got his wish.
“It was great, I should have done it years ago.”
For Pierce, it’s been a long road to Las Vegas and the main card for Saturday’s bout with the former world title challenger. 5-2 in the Octagon, with his only losses coming via decision to Jon Fitch and Johny Hendricks, the Portland native was that ‘middle of the road’ contender who had some spotty outings early in his UFC career but who was starting to hit his stride with his 2011 wins over Kenny Robertson and Paul Bradley.
“I’ve been with the company three years now, I hope I picked up something along the way,” he laughs. “But I think I’ve found my place and my niche and I’ve been developing a style that’s not only effective, but exciting to watch.”
Yet without a spectacular victory over a big name foe, he was probably stuck in the preliminary portion of the card until a long win streak would give him his shot. Or he could just take his chances and call out the biggest available name. So that’s what he did, choosing Koscheck as the object of his tweets.
“He (Koscheck) would give me a little more credibility, he’d put me in a good spot if I beat him, and the other thing is that he’s just one of those guys that I think the fans just don’t like, and they would really love to see someone kick the s**t out of him, and I want to be that guy.”
Pierce got the fight, but Koscheck hasn’t been his usual loquacious self this time around, something that surprises his opponent.
“He’s been unusually quiet this time around,” said Pierce. “I don’t know why he hasn’t been his normal Josh Koscheck self. A lot of people have been asking me ‘why do you think he’s like that.’ I don’t know, ask him. (Laughs) I just saw an opportunity there to fight one of the top guys, he’s been around a long time, he’s someone I wanted to fight, I asked for it, and I got it.”
It is a tough fight for Pierce on paper, but he’s had plenty of experience taking on wrestlers in his UFC stint thus far, with Fitch, Hendricks, Bradley, and Robertston all coming from Division I programs. So getting in there with a former D-I national champion in Koscheck isn’t an issue.
“I would love to do nothing but beat up on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu guys and smash them all day long, but the guys that are at the top are typically the wrestlers,” said Pierce. “You can look division through division, and whether they’re wearing belts or not, a lot of the top guys have strong wrestling backgrounds. It’s just one of those inevitable things where you’re gonna fight a lot of wrestlers, so it comes with the sport.”
And Pierce is no wrestling neophyte, having briefly competed for Portland State University’s mat squad.
“It always gives a little extra incentive to try to one up someone in a fight where we both have strong wrestling backgrounds,” he admits. “Of course, he won a national title and he was an All-American four years in a row. I didn’t really stick with wrestling for as long as I could have. I got bored with it, and it was time for me to move on and do different things, and I chose a different path. Had I stayed with it, I’m sure I would have been an All-American at least once or twice, but I’m in the sport where I want to be now, and my background and titles that I did have or could have had don’t really mean anything to me, and neither do his.”
What Pierce will definitely be looking for is Koscheck’s right hand, a lethal weapon that has ended many nights for opponents, but also one that he believes is easily detected.
“He loves throwing that right hand,” he said. “The only problem is that you can see it coming from yesterday. (Laughs) But it always helps to have a little bit of luck. I had a wrestling coach ask me a question, what would you rather be, a consistent wrestler or a lucky wrestler. I said I’d love to be the consistent wrestler. He kinda laughed and said ‘I’d rather be a lucky wrestler, because the lucky wrestlers beat consistent wrestlers. And it’s the same thing in the fights. He (Koscheck) has got a skill set and it’s been working for him, but I don’t plan on being caught by an overhand right I see coming a mile away.”
And at 31, Pierce knows that the time is now if he wants to make a move on the ever elusive world title, so a win over Koscheck is imperative.
“I’m not getting any younger,” he said. “I’m in this sport to be the best and to have a title and that’s always been my goal at the end of the day. And if that’s what it takes, another fight or another two fights to get there, then so be it. I’m just gonna keep coming until I’m there.”
So who’s next on the call out list?
“I haven’t been putting any thought past Josh Koscheck,” he laughs. “I’ve been focusing primarily on him, and when it comes to that, I’m sure I’ll be able to come up with someone. Hopefully, I’ll get it again. It worked this time, maybe it will work again.”
Posted on 1 February 2012 | 1:00 am
When it came to marketing, Scott Jorgensen wasn’t just good; he was damn good. A graduate of Boise State University who earned three Pac-10 wrestling titles in addition to his psychology degree, the Utah native was at a familiar crossroads for successful college athletes who don’t have a logical professional career (like the NFL or NBA) waiting for them in their sport as soon as school ends.
“I originally wanted to try it (fighting) out, but I had the option to go move to the Olympic Training Center, and in my mind, it was either wrestle and work a job and try to make the Olympics, or just become a regular guy, just working hard every day like my dad and build a life for myself,” said Jorgensen. “I took to fighting.”
And to working. Soon, his work ethic and talent sent him flying up the corporate ladder.
"When I graduated college, I was working in non-medical home care,” he said. “I was a marketing director, and my buddy kinda set me up with the job and I got going, and I was actually really good at it. I worked my way into ownership of a non-medical home care company, and I earned my ownership through building offices. I was a really good marketer, I went in there and doubled business for a company called Vida home care.”
Jorgensen wasn’t a bad fighter either, and less than two years into a pro career that began in 2006, he was invited to compete in the WEC, stamping him as one of the best bantamweights in the world. In the cage, Jorgensen was raw, aggressive, and able to make any opponent’s night miserable. His rise was steady in the organization, but after a 3-2 start, a Fight of the Night win over Takeya Mizugaki in December of 2009 started his road to the title. Three more wins (against Chad George, Antonio Banuelos, and Brad Pickett) garnered him a December 2010 fight with Dominick Cruz for not just the WEC, but the first UFC 135-pound title as well, and it was at this point he decided that splitting himself between his marketing job, fighting, gym ownership, and fatherhood wasn’t going to cut it anymore. Something had to go.
“Right before my fight with Dominick, I was like this has to happen,” he said. “I’m gonna call it quits with the day job stuff and this is what I’m gonna do. I’m gonna live my dream and ride it as long as I can.”
Jorgensen would lose to Cruz via unanimous decision, putting his dream on hold, but not crushing it. Remember, this is the same hard-nosed wrestler who put up with an ungodly schedule for years and still made it to the upper echelon of the division. One setback wasn’t going to deter him, and in 2011, he made his intentions known to a new fanbase in the UFC as he knocked out Ken Stone and decisioned Jeff Curran. This Saturday night, he faces streaking Brazilian Renan Barao in an intriguing pairing that may just be an unofficial title eliminator.
“I think it’s definitely gotta be up there right now,” said Jorgensen. “There’s only a few guys on a tear that I think could be considered number one contender. And I’m fresh off two straight wins, Barao’s on a heater, and to me it makes sense. I fully plan on beating Barao and facing the winner out of Dominick and Urijah.”
This March, Cruz and Faber continue their rivalry as coaches on the 15th season of The Ultimate Fighter before settling their score in a rubber match later this year. Should he emerge victorious against Barao and earn a title shot, Jorgensen will be in an interesting place. He wants redemption against Cruz, but after the first fight, the rematch is a tougher sell at the moment. And while Faber would be a more marketable fight, he is also friends with “The California Kid,” a dynamic that wouldn’t stop Jorgensen from taking the bout if a title is on the line. Regardless, Jorgensen already knows who he’s rooting for.
“Urijah’s my friend and I want him to win, regardless of whether I’m gonna fight him or not,” said Jorgensen. “He’s been a friend of mine for a long time, and he’s big factor in why I’m fighting today. We share the same managers, we’ve been sponsored by Form, and I want my friend to do well. Eventually I want to fight Dominick though, whether he’s got a belt or not. I didn’t perform the best against Dominick, but between those two in their title fight, I want Faber to win. And that’s not because of anything against Dominick for beating me. I will fight Dominick again down the road, I know that, and I’m not too worried about getting my revenge there.”
That’s a ways down the road though, and “Young Guns” knows it. Barao is a dynamic competitor fresh off a spectacular finish of Brad Pickett last November, and even if he wasn’t one of the most dangerous fighters in the division, Jorgensen would have his eyes solely on Saturday night, because the last time he let his focus stray, it ended up in the loss to Cruz.
“I’ve got one job ahead of me first and foremost, and that’s to go in there and take care of Barao,” he said. “And whatever happens between Dominick and Urijah, it doesn’t matter. As long as I take care of business February 4th, everything else falls in line. And that’s always been my mentality, and the one time I got away from that was before I fought Dominick. I started thinking ahead and started thinking that things were gonna be easy and handed to me.”
The lesson was a costly one, but a lesson nonetheless, and it reminded him that in this sport or in life, nothing comes easy. And as soon as the 29-year old Jorgensen remembered that blue collar work ethic instilled in him by his father, it was like riding a bike. Now his job is to make Barao miserable for 15 minutes or less.
“Barao’s a tough guy, he’s very well-rounded, and he’s on a streak, so he’s got a lot of confidence and he’s riding high,” he said. “But there are a lot of firsts in this fight for him, and he’s gonna get his eyes opened on what it’s like to be tangling with the guys at the top of the division. And I’m going in there with the same mentality I’ve had in my last two fights against Curran and Stone, and that’s to outwork him, put the pressure on him, and be first in everything. I’m gonna be the guy that makes him rethink whether he wants to sit through another couple rounds of this guy grinding on him, pushing him, breaking him, beating him, choking him. And that’s my gameplan. I’m gonna go in there and I’m gonna hit him, kick him, choke him, take him down, slam him, and I’m gonna do everything to make him uncomfortable. And I’m good at it.”
That he is, and as his six-year old son Braeten follows in his father’s footsteps (he’s already earned his orange belt, is entering his second season of freestyle wrestling, and can run half a mile and pull off 20 pushups, 30 situps, and four unassisted pull-ups), Jorgensen is showing him that in this family, you can have all the talent in the world, but the one who can outlast everyone is the one who succeeds.
“That’s 20-plus years of wrestling,” said Jorgensen when asked about mental toughness. “I made it my first three months of college with maybe one takedown. And that’s no joke. That’s perseverance and the heart of a champion. I’m somebody who’s not gonna break because the going gets tough. My grandpa always told me ‘cowboy up.’ And I’m not much of a cowboy – I’m tatted up and I got a red Mohawk (Laughs) – but there’s a little bit of country in me and a little bit of cowboy, and I’m not just gonna roll over because things get tough. If it’s gonna get tough, I’m gonna push back. And if he’s gonna push back, I’m gonna push back harder. I’m gonna grit my teeth and lower my chin and come forward.”
Posted on 1 February 2012 | 1:00 am
The names are familiar to UFC fans: Cain Velasquez, Ryan Bader, Aaron Simpson, CB Dollaway. So it’s really no surprise that Clifford Starks is the latest Arizona State University wrestling alum to make it to the UFC.
Is it something in the water?
“I think it might be the barbecue,” laughed Starks, a teammate of Velasquez who, despite being the second to graduate (behind Simpson) from the aforementioned group, was the last to turn pro.
“I wasn’t really thinking about it (fighting) at the time,” said Starks, who earned his Kinesiology degree in 2005. “I got into personal training right when I finished wrestling, but I missed being competitive.”
And flag football on the weekend just wasn’t going to cut it, right?
“The funny thing is, that’s what I was doing,” he laughs. “But I always knew that I was gonna compete in something. What I was going to compete in I just didn’t know at the time.”
Eventually though, watching his former teammate and the rest of the ASU crew begin to make their mark in mixed martial arts piqued his interest.
“I started seeing them moving up and making names for themselves, and I was always staying in training shape,” he recalled. “I did a couple bodybuilding shows, but seeing the success that they had definitely made me consider giving it a try. It was a great step towards maintaining something that’s similar to what I already knew.”
In December of 2009, Starks dipped his toe in the MMA pool for the first time, submitting Chad Menneke in the second round. Now hooked on the sport, Tempe’s Starks continued fighting and winning, showing off that ASU pedigree that fans were beginning to get accustomed to from those wearing the maroon and gold.
“I really think it’s the mental toughness aspect and the workouts that we would go through,” said Starks when asked the biggest aspect of ASU training that he brings into MMA with him. “They would really work us to where nine out of 10 guys would be throwing up afterwards. So when you go through something like that, you just kinda think that fighting’s no big deal. It is, and it’s very intense, but to go through the things we went through makes the transition that much easier.”
That’s not to say his October 2011 call to the UFC was an expected one. 7-0 as a pro, Starks had just finished up a three round decision win over Artenas Young on October 15th when his phone rang on October 21st. Did he want to replace the injured Brad Tavares and fight Dustin Jacoby at UFC 137 in eight days?
Absolutely.
“You made it to the big show, let’s see what you’ve got,” thought Starks, who admits that the short notice call helped him stay focused on what was important – the fight – and not about the idea of making it to the big show.
“It made it a little bit easier mentally because you really didn’t have time to think about it. You just had to jump on the opportunity and go from there.”
On that fall night in Vegas, Starks took the opportunity and ran with it, winning a shutout three round decision over the previously unbeaten Jacoby to improve to 8-0, and he did so without showing off any first time UFC jitters. Unless he was hiding them well.
“I was hiding it a little bit (Laughs), but once you get into the Octagon and the ref asks if you’re ready to go, you’re into fight mode, and that probably comes from my wrestling background a little bit too. It (winning on short notice) built up my self-esteem in that area, knowing that I can take something like that and make a good situation out of it.”
His reward for the big win? A main card slot on this Saturday’s UFC 143 card against veteran Ed Herman. It’s a big step up in competition for the 30-year old, but that’s nothing he’s concerned about.
“I feel it’s something that I’m ready for and I trained for very diligently, and we’ll just see what happens from there when the bell rings,” said Starks. “He’s a competitor like myself, I see us having a really great fight, and let the best man win.”
Clifford Starks plans on making sure that best man is the one from Arizona State University.
“I’m just gonna go out there and give it my all, fight my gameplan, and then see who comes out on top,” he said. “The way I feel about it, win, lose, or draw, this is such a large opportunity for me that I think I’m gonna learn from this experience regardless. Obviously I want to come away with the victory, and then I’ll revamp my gameplan from there. I always want to improve, I always want to be the best.”
Posted on 1 February 2012 | 1:00 am
Renan Barao, the bantamweight contender from Nova Uniao who faces former title challenger Scott Jorgensen at UFC 143, has a strong opinion about things that are new to him. And we are not just talking about fights, as Barao has already shown that he can stand and bang or grapple with splendor and, in the process, deal with matters such as his international debut in the WEC back in 2010, his move to the UFC, and his most recent bout in his opponent’s backyard when he subbed local hero Brad "One Punch" Pickett in England.
For Barao, it’s all just a case of adaptation, training, and will that make these new ventures become second nature, not only in the sport, but in life too.
"I never felt that responsibility that people are used to putting on me," he says. "They say I am a Nova Uniao black belt, so I need to sub everybody to prove a point, but I don't see it this way. Guys forget that I have also been training boxing for so long, so my game is to finish the fights, not exclusively trying to take people down and work the ground game. Perhaps the two fights I had in the WEC and in my UFC debut cemented the mindset that I am a grappler, and because of it they got shocked when I was better at trading blows with a guy nicknamed ‘One Punch.’"
The performance against Pickett back in November at UFC 138 was really impressive, and Barao fought like he was competing in an empty arena as he ignored the audience's boos in order to put on an absolute showcase of his talent. In pre-fight comments, he said the British fans’ cheers wouldn't affect him, and he naturally adapted himself to the situation with ease.
Yet while he deals with the pressure of his sport with no problem, saying it’s all about adjustment, we can't say the same thing when the topic is his samba dancing. Before UFC 142 in Rio de Janeiro in January, Barao, along with Junior dos Santos, Ronny Markes and Johnny Eduardo, made an appearance at Samba School to test their skills with the rhythm and proved that the first two men are much better fighters than dancers.
"I shocked everybody with my rhythm (or lack of it), did you see?” he laughs. "If it was forro (a traditional rhythm from the Northeast of Brazil), you would see my talent, but samba... You know, give me a couple of weeks to train and I'll adjust better (laughs)."
All kidding aside, the 25-year old Rio Grande do Norte native did do his homework in the last 60 days of preparation, and after getting an in-depth look at his adversary’s footage, Barao took the first step toward extending his superb unbeaten streak to 30. Once again he speaks about adapting, adding that there are a combination of factors needed for him to overcome Jorgensen this weekend.
"I don't agree with those who talk about not studying your opponent’s game; it's very important to be aware of what the tendencies of Jorgensen are. That is part of a great strategy to trap the opponent or to capitalize on the holes in his game." Barao said. "On the other hand, these two fights I had in WEC and two in UFC were kind of a maturation for me. I felt the vibration, I could let my game go, and I could see what happens when you have the crowd on your side and you can't impose your will – being the favorite becomes a heavy boulder on your shoulder. You know, I believe this was what happened to Pickett; all the responsibility was on him, and the moment my punches and knees started to connect, he saw that the crowd couldn’t help and that it was only me and him inside the cage."
Topping with Jorgensen, Barao (29-1 1 NC) might not been counting with the "Young Guns" using the public to discourage him.
In Jorgensen, Barao will be facing a fighter who is in the top five in the bantamweight division, and who has wrestling credentials linked to the punching power that separated Ken Stone from his senses at the TUF 13 Finale and neutralized Brazilian jiu-jitsu wizard and former WEC featherweight title challenger Jeff Curran. These “Young Guns” are the real deal to combat the Brazilian’s game, but Barao hopes to fire back with his own arsenal.
"What I can tell you is that the fight will be huge,” said Barao. “We are finishers, we are agile and we want the gold. I want to show more of my game on the feet, where I have the reach advantage over my recent opponents, and I know that to have a long reach is not a guarantee that you will box better, but I know how to use it. I know what the fight's positive outcome can generate for me and the key factor is to not get your mind lost into it. Just impose your game."
This pivotal meeting will probably mark the rise of a contender for the winner of Dominick Cruz vs. Urijah Faber III. And though the Brazilian is aware of this aftermath, the current moment is the more important goal now as he has only one responsibility.
"My unique and exclusive responsibility is to go forward in all my fights, try to control the opponent and show my game and my work. This is the goal I carry, and it isn't heavy when I step in the cage."
Posted on 1 February 2012 | 1:00 am
The Ultimate Fighting Championship® presents its seventh UFC Fan Expo® event on Friday, July 6 and Saturday, July 7 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. UFC® President Dana White made the announcement today during a press conference to promote UFC® 143, which takes place this Saturday from the Mandalay Bay Events Center.
“We love giving UFC fans ultimate access to our sport and athletes,” UFC President Dana White said. “This July, we’re putting together our best UFC Fan Expo yet. We’re going to have dozens of our fighters in attendance to sign autographs and meet fans, and we’re going to have some of the world’s top vendors and exhibitors. This is an absolute can’t-miss event for UFC fans around the world!”
Tickets for the UFC Fan Expo® are on sale NOW at www.ufcfanexpo.com. Tickets for Friday, July 6 are priced at $40, while tickets for Saturday, July 7 are priced at $45. A two-day pass is also available and is priced at $60. Fans are encouraged to buy their tickets now and save, as ticket pricing will increase at the door. VIP packages for the UFC Fan Expo® are also available at www.ufcfanexpo.com.
The UFC Fan Expo® in July will feature more than 300,000 gross square feet of activities for UFC fans, including meet and greets and autograph sessions with top UFC and STRIKEFORCE® fighters, Q&A sessions with top UFC personalities, as well as grappling tournaments and other special events. More than 150 exhibitors will also be on hand, giving fans the opportunity to purchase and experience some of the best sports and lifestyle products on the market today. This marks the third UFC Fan Expo® held in Las Vegas since its inception in 2009, with additional UFC Fan Expos being held in Boston, London, Toronto and Houston.
On top of all the great fan activities, the UFC Fan Expo® will be held in conjunction with a major UFC Pay-Per-View event scheduled for July 7 in Las Vegas. Information on the venue and fight card will be announced in the weeks to come.
For more information on UFC Fan Expo® and to purchase tickets, visit www.ufcfanexpo.com. To subscribe to the official UFC Fan Expo® newsletter visit www.ufcfanexpo.com/newsletter. For companies interested in reserving space at this premier event, contact Brian Bernstein, Sales Executive at 203-840-5474 or email bbernstein@ufcfanexpo.com. Don’t wait, space is limited and will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
Posted on 1 February 2012 | 1:00 am
The old saying “diamonds are a girl’s best friend and a man’s worst enemy” goes double for the UFC’s featherweight division because it’s their most dangerous competition. The shiniest and sharpest jewel of the resident 145ers cut a three fight win streak in 2011 that announced the presence of the weight class’ newest rising star. Whether they’re from Antwerp or Africa, the only allotrope of carbon fight fans need to know about is the one born, raised, and training to get meaner in Lafayette, Louisiana: Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier.
“I feel like I'm living a dream,” exudes Poirier about fighting in the UFC. “It is all happening so quick. I can feel myself getting better with every fight. It's incredible. I could not wish or want it any other way. It all unfolded perfectly this last year. I really got to show my skills and fans have gotten to see who I am and it's just amazing. It's a lot of hard work that is paying off. It really feels good at night to lie down and see it paying off.”
It was only a year ago that Poirier made his Octagon debut at UFC 125 with the one-sided standup beatdown of the top ranked Josh Grispi. The decision victory, which featured a few 10-8’s in favor of “The Diamond”, shocked MMA fans because previously Poirier was a 1-1 lightweight in the WEC and Grispi was in-line for a shot at UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo. Poirier returned to the cage in June with another exciting decision win over British striker Jason “Shotgun” Young. To bookend 2011, Poirier was to set face a fellow burgeoning 2-0 inside the Octagon standout in Pablo Garza on the undercard of UFC on FOX in November.
“I felt like it was going to be a step up in competition from my last fight,” admits Porier. “A real test. Pablo Garza had proven himself a couple of times with some big victories. I knew he was an unorthodox guy who was unpredictable, so I knew it was going to be a fun fight. I knew it was going to be a fast pace and I was excited to take a step up on the ladder in the weight division. I train hard always, but mentally I was prepared for as soon as the bell rang to start throwing punches. In my head, it was going to be 'Fight of the Night'. It was going to be a 15 minute war. I thought his standup was going to test mine and I thought his ground game was going to do the same. I thought it was going to be a back-and-forth great fight. I was mentally ready for 15 minutes of bleeding and battling.”
All of that sounds absolutely magical to a fight fan’s ears, but the actuality of the bout was probably Poirier’s shortest and most impressive win yet: a second round victory via D’arce choke. Make no mistake, Garza is a fearsome young fighter with standup and submissions that can beat most competitors. Regardless, Poirier controlled the action on the feet and on the ground early and showed a clear strength advantage that night. The night-ending choke came a little over a minute into round two, as Poirier showed off the grappling skills he’s honed wrestling with close friend, mentor, UFC middleweight, and BJJ black belt Tim Credeur.
“I've been competing in jiu-jitsu for a long time,” tells Poirier. “I've been a purple belt for over a year. I do a lot of gi jiu-jitsu. That's something I have shown in other fights, but not before in the UFC. I think in this next fight, I think I'm really going to show how well-rounded I am. I have wrestling, I have jiu-jitsu. It's just sometimes I get caught up in the battle standing. I'm a fighter and I really enjoy fighting. I enjoy getting into a slugfest sometimes. But I'm grinding those edges away and becoming more well-rounded with every fight. I'm finding the better balance between my aggression and my techniques. I think that takes a while for some guys to find that to click. I think I'm starting to come into my own there. I got lots more submissions and I know I'm capable of finishing the fight wherever it goes.”
At UFC 143, Poirier will enter the Octagon for the fourth time to face the end result of a revolving door of challengers ranging from the “who’s who” to simply “who”. Originally, Poirier was set to scrap with southpaw striker Erik Koch with his similarly stunning string of UFC scores. Koch had to pull out due to injury and was replaced by 2-0 in the UFC orthodox grappler Ricardo Lamas. In another unlucky twist of fate, Lamas was forced to withdraw due to an injury and will be relieved by the debuting orthodox kickboxer Max Holloway. Some fighters play it off like a switch in opponent is not a big deal, but Poirier is candid when he notes that they are major disruptions to him. But what never wavers going into every fight is how committed he is to succeeding.
“In my mind, it's real huge to me when things like that change because I am thinking about it so much,” admits Poirier. “I play the fights out in my head so many times. I think about this 24 hours a day from the time I wake up until the time I wake up again. I even dream about it. This is my life. This isn't a hobby or just a career I'm trying to be good at - this is everything. That's the fight game though. Guys are in training and they get hurt. With all the changes that are happening, the one thing that keeps my confidence up is the one thing that is consistent the whole time and that is me busting my ass and getting ready to fight. That hasn't changed. No matter who I fight, I'm out here every day grinding, getting ready to fight. At the end of the day, I'm a fighter and we're going to get into that cage, close the door and we're going to fight. That's something that hasn't changed.”
As for the UFC 143 bout itself, Poirier will play the role of the savvy veteran to the rookie in 20-year old Holloway. “I feel like the old guy now (laughs) and I just turned 23 last week,” jokes Poirier, who has been scouring the internet to find out as much as he can about his new opponent. “He's 4-0 as a professional, has six or seven amateur fights I think, and I think he has some kickboxing experience. I know Jeremy Stephens flew him out to San Diego to help him get ready for Anthony Pettis. Holloway kind of resembles Pettis a little bit with his kickboxing and his length, so he's a rangy fighter.”
Whether or not he knows much about his competition, Poirier’s rock is his coach, Credeur, and the gym, Gladiators Academy, where he polishes his diamond-like brilliant skills six days a week. Also, Poirier has been in this situation before with impromptu opponents, as his fight with Grispi was taken on short notice and Young was a substitute for previously scheduled Rani Yahya. On top of that, it was only twelve months ago that he was making his own debut as the underdog against a surging odds-on favorite. Where previous experience, abilities, and that fighter’s edge have helped him to victory, Poirier expects much of the same on this Super Bowl weekend.
“Every fight I get into 100%, it is intimate for me,” affirms Poirier. “I study the guy. I don't care if he has one fight or 100 fights, I'm in this fight 100%. He's a dangerous guy. He's 4-0. I'm not underestimating this guy. I'm training like I'm fighting Anderson Silva. I'm over here and I'm not taking him lightly. I know how that happens to people. Just a year ago, I was in his shoes. I was getting into the cage fighting Josh Grispi, no one knew who I was and I was supposed to get destroyed by a top ten guy. I went in there and I destroyed him. Nobody knew that was going to happen. He's over there training and he's thinking he is going to do the same thing to me. Knowing that I've taken that same walk in those shoes empowers me to be ready. For me, I have to go in there and fight smart. I know what he's going to do. I think what he does good, I'm better at. I have to go in there and capitalize on his mistakes. I'm 11-1 as a professional fighter, but this is my 22nd or 23rd mixed martial arts fight. I have a little bit of experience and I have to use it to capitalize on his mistakes when he makes them.”
This Saturday, “The Diamond” will meet the Hawaiian Holloway in the cage with the same seriousness reserved for a main event. “I want to show the fans that I'm coming in better with every fight and I'm growing with every fight,” states Poirier, who knows going 4-0 in the UFC by simply beating the opponents in front of him is what will get him to his ultimate goal: the UFC featherweight title. “I want to go in there and make a statement. I am for real no matter who I fight. I want to move up and take another step closer because I want to be a champion one day.”
A diamond is usually set in gold, but if this year is like Poirier’s last, then “The Diamond” might be wearing the gold.
Posted on 31 January 2012 | 1:00 am
For people who enjoy collision competition, nothing will beat this upcoming first Saturday and Sunday in February. On Sunday, it’s the final NFL game of the season: Super Bowl XLVI between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots. But the night prior, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, UFC 143 will be the proving ground for two of the top heavyweights in the world: Fabricio Werdum and Roy Nelson. Before the nation crowns a new Super Bowl champion, the big boys of the UFC will clash to see who is one step closer to a title shot. For “Big Country”, nothing could be sweeter than another win in his hometown, which puts him that much closer to UFC gold.
“I feel like I can beat anyone that is in the heavyweight division,” declares Nelson. “That's just what I feel. I feel if I fought you before, I got your game, I got it locked. I'm like Robocop or the Terminator, where I learn to be a better fighter. When it comes to the game of MMA, you want to fight whoever it takes to get to the top.”
At 35 years old, the Las Vegas native is entering his eighth year as a pro and his sixth fight inside the Octagon, and the 17-6 Nelson’s attitude is as intensely focused on his ultimate goal as it ever was: being the UFC heavyweight champion. Less than two years ago, Nelson was nearly one win away from fighting for the strap at UFC 117 against Junior Dos Santos. A win over Werdum coupled with Nelson’s win over the iconic Mirko Cro Cop at UFC 137 would immediately put Nelson back in the mix for hopefully a title eliminator match in 2012, which is exactly where he has his sights set.
“Ever since I started fighting, I've just always wanted to fight the best in the world,” tells Nelson. “Move up the rankings and fight the best in the world. I think that's pretty much always my goal. You only retire when you can't compete with the best in the world still. Look at Dan Henderson. Judging by the landscape of the heavyweight division, I could do this until I’m 50. My thing is when I was in the IFL I made sure I was champion. Since I got into the UFC, I want to make sure I am champion before I leave.”
Standing in Nelson’s way is a familiar face to the UFC faithful, Brazilian submission specialist Werdum. After going 2-2 inside the Octagon, the PRIDE veteran joined Strikeforce in 2009, where Werdum’s stock rose like a rocket. Arguably, no other fighter has had a more legend-growing and captivating year in MMA outside of the UFC than Werdum had in Strikeforce. Werdum went 3-0 with a quick finish of Mike Kyle, a decision win over Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva, and, the coup of coups, a submission of Fedor Emelianenko via triangle choke in the first round on June 26th, 2010. Nelson wants to face and defeat the best, and Werdum is certainly one of them.
“Fabricio is a great fighter,” affirms Nelson. “He was the guy that dethroned Fedor. He's definitely beaten up some great guys in the UFC too. He's someone you can't take lightly. He's like #4 in the world right now. He's definitely somebody.”
The 14-5-1 Werdum’s most recent fight was last June, a decision loss against current #1 contender Alistair Overeem. It definitely wasn’t the most entertaining heavyweight main event, but, in that loss, it clearly showed how dangerous a fighter like Overeem knows Werdum is. Overeem refused to go to the ground with Werdum and some believe, including Nelson, that Werdum outstruck Overeem, who is a former K-1 kickboxing World Grand Prix champion. Either way, it’s a loss on his record, but for those who have seen the fight it was another eye-opening experience about Werdum.
“I saw the fight with Overeem and Overeem was very tentative because Fabricio is a guy who can beat you in a lot of spots,” says Nelson. “Fabricio had already beaten Overeem, so it's not like he wasn't cautious because of that. The biggest thing with Fabricio is he is a well-rounded martial artist. He actually beat Overeem on the standup. You have to be definitely cautious with his ground game because of what he's done to Fedor and what he's done to a lot of fighters in the UFC. I've prepared myself to be the most well-rounded mixed martial artist.”
Nelson is busy sharpening his own vaunted all-around skills at his gym The Country Club in Las Vegas. He matches up perfectly with Werdum in all areas of a fight, including and especially the ground game, where he is a fellow BJJ black belt, having received the honor from the revered Renzo Gracie. But he isn’t entering the cage to test Werdum’s “jits”; Nelson is going in there to win. “Fabricio attacks with armbars and triangles because he has long limbs. I'm more the American-type with power and technique and I try to keep it simple on top. If I wanted to find out what it was like grappling wise with him, I would just go to his gym and grapple him, but this is MMA and I'm trying to be the best MMA fighter.”
As far as striking, Nelson gives Werdum a ton of praise, but one thing his opponent lacks is his specialty: power.
“Fabricio might have better standup than me and his standup might even be better than the K-1 champion Overeem's, but Overeem and I definitely punch harder,” affirms Nelson, whose heavy hands KOed Brendan Schaub to win him season 10 of The Ultimate Fighter as well as earned him 10 of his 17 professional victories. “Going off of what he did to Overeem, he beat a K-1 kickboxing champion in the standup, but Overeem just punches harder. The contrast Overeem and I have is that we punch harder. Sometimes God just blesses you with power.”
On February 4th in Las Vegas, two titans will tangle in the Octagon to decide who is that much closer to the glory of being in a heavyweight title fight.
“It is definitely one of those things you want to have on your resume,” muses Nelson, who won’t be satisfied in the UFC until he gets his shot at the gold and wins it, and that starts Saturday night with Werdum. “If you play football, you want to say you went to the Super Bowl and the next thing is to say you won the Super Bowl. Everyone has goals and you just have to make sure you accomplish them. Expectation wise for this fight, it's just to go out there and win and put on a show, so that the fans will appreciate it.”
Posted on 31 January 2012 | 1:00 am
Despite three surgeries on his knee that were costing him nearly two years of his prime as a mixed martial artist, Ed Herman knew that he would eventually come back to the UFC and life as a full-time fighter. That doesn’t mean there weren’t questions, both internally and externally, and days when everything just seemed to go wrong.
“There are times when you have a bad day and you think, ‘is it over?’” Herman recalled of the time between his August 2009 fight with Aaron Simpson and his return to the Octagon in June of 2011. “And a lot of people are questioning if you’ll ever fight again.”
This was never more evident than in his time working as a bartender while he rehabbed his knee. People aren’t exactly known for their tact in the best of circumstances. Add in some alcohol and it gets worse, as Herman recalled.
“People are like ‘hey, you’re that guy who used to be in the UFC. Aww, here’s an extra buck. Sorry buddy.’”
It was a stark reminder for someone barely 30 years old of how fragile a career in professional sports can be. Herman didn’t take such jabs as an excuse to fade away though. It made him work even harder to get back what he lost.
“That kinda stuff motivated me, and it put in perspective how great of an opportunity it is to fight in the UFC, and how blessed I was still to do that. So to possibly have all that taken away was a lot to deal with.”
Herman would have his third knee surgery in March of 2010. Shortly afterward, his friend and longtime training partner Ryan Schultz talked to him about opening a gym in Fort Collins, Colorado, far from his home base in Portland. Herman didn’t need much convincing, and in August of 2010, he moved to the Rocky Mountain state and Trials Martial Arts and Fitness was born.
“I fell in love with it, packed my bags, rented my house out, and moved out there,” said Herman, who has adjusted well to the new surroundings. “I miss home, but I definitely needed a change with the weather. It’s sunny here like 300 plus days a year, which is awesome. I like the snow too, so you get the hot summers and the cold winters, but what’s cool about the winter is that it could be cold, but the sun comes out.”
More importantly, the sun was coming out on Herman’s career as well, as he got the green light to begin training and to resume his career.
“Sometimes having some time away from the sport you can reflect on what’s going on around you,” he said. “So I guess everything happens for a reason, and maybe it was good for me to have that time off to refocus mentally. I’m also working with some new coaches, and I had great people around me before, but sometimes change can help.”
The questions would only be answered in the Octagon though, and Herman was expected to be tested immediately by Louisiana jiu-jitsu black belt Tim Credeur in their June 2011 bout. 48 seconds later, Herman had a knockout win, his first victory in the UFC since he defeated David Loiseau in April of 2009, and a new start to a career that looked rocky even before the knee injury, as he had gone 1-3 in his previous four fights.
Of course, skeptics are rarely convinced with one comeback victory, so Herman had to show them one more time, and he did two months later as he latched on a heel hook against Kyle Noke and submitted him at 4:15 of the first round.
Surprised?
“Maybe I surprised people a little bit, but everybody knows I’m gonna bring it every time, no matter what,” said Herman, now 19-7. “A lot of people said ‘what have you been doing different, oh my gosh, you look so much better.’ But I’m the same guy; I just was able to put it together and everything kinda went my way. I always had those skills. Maybe I was just putting things together better. But things happen in your career, you make different choices, and that can reflect on your performance.”
And oddly enough, Herman’s resurgence comes with an added benefit – a clean slate, as there are some newer fans who may not even remember him as the finalist on season three of The Ultimate Fighter, but as a rookie fighter with a knack for fast finishes.
“I think with the new fanbase, I definitely got some new fans, which was great,” he said. “And some of the old fans came around too, maybe some people who didn’t like me before.”
Saturday night, the world will see Herman, as he’s on the UFC 143 main card in Las Vegas, taking on unbeaten, but relatively unknown Clifford Starks.
“There’s not that much tape on him, but looking him up, he’s 8-0, he’s newer to MMA and I would say he’s a young, up and coming, hungry guy, but he’s the same age as me, really,” said the 31-year old Herman of the 30-year old Starks, a former Arizona State University wrestler who made his Octagon debut with a win over Dustin Jacoby at UFC 137 last October. “He’s definitely an athletic dude and I’m sure he’s gonna come hungry and come for me, so it’s the same motivation, if not more. When you’re supposed to win, there’s a lot more pressure on your back – at least there is for me anyway. So I feel like I have to go out and perform. If I go out there and lose, or look bad winning, then that’s only going to be a negative thing for me. I have to go out there and put it on this guy and show him that he’s not at my level and make him understand why he shouldn’t be in there with me.”
Herman does understand what Starks is going through, having been there himself back in 2004, when he was the hot 8-0 prospect running through the local circuit before getting the call to travel to Japan to face Kazuo Misaki in his ninth pro fight.
Who? Only a guy whose record already included fights with Chris Lytle, Nate Marquardt, Ricardo Almeida, and Jake Shields.
“It was a big shock for me,” said Herman. “I went from fighting locally in the Northwest to boom, you’re in Japan. And then my manager, Matt Lindland, he didn’t even tell me who Misaki was. I get over there and I find out he’s one of the top ranked Japanese guys in the world and I’m like ‘dude, you didn’t tell me that.’ (Laughs). Matt goes ‘It doesn’t matter, you’ll kick his butt.’ All right Lindland. It was good in some ways, but in other ways it’s not the best way to bring up a young fighter.”
At 3:31 of the second round, Herman got put to sleep by an arm triangle choke. That was the bad news. On the bright side, he went on to win five of his next six bouts, earning the spot on TUF3 that launched his UFC career.
“I did pretty well,” said Herman of the Misaki bout. “I was kicking Misaki’s butt until I made a mistake and let him choke me out unconscious. I always wanted that one back.”
As for Starks, Herman says “It’s his second fight in the UFC, and it takes a while to get used to all that, but he competed a high level in college wrestling, so he’s used to competing, and that’s a big thing. So I think he’s gonna be comfortable competing, and he probably believes he can win until he gets in there with me and I start putting the pressure on him, and I feel like I can get in there and break his will.”
That doesn’t mean “Short Fuse” is underestimating his foe. It’s just the opposite, because he knows that one bad break or one bad loss can put a serious dent in this comeback and in a 2012 plan that he hopes will pave the way to a shot at a world title.
“I’ve got a tough fight coming with Starks and I do respect the guy,” said Herman. “But I’m looking to go in there and get three, four wins this year if I can, and make my way through the top ten and ultimately look for a title shot. I’ve got to take it one fight at a time of course, but I’d love to work my way to the top and get a shot at the title some day.”
Then there will definitely be no more bartending gigs.
“Maybe I’ll buy a bar someday and bartend there.”
Posted on 31 January 2012 | 1:00 am
An injury has sidelined Aussie BJJ black belt George Sotiropoulos, forcing him off of next month's UFC 144 fight card.
Stepping up to face lightweight legend Takanori Gomi is another submission ace, Eiji Mitsuoka, who will fight in his hometown of Satiama, Japan.
UFC Japan Fight Card Fleshed Out updated November 27
The Ultimate Fighting Championship® announced the full title card today of the organization’s return to the birthplace of mixed martial arts. UFC® JAPAN: EDGAR vs. HENDERSON features an epic lightweight title fight pitting champion Frankie Edgar against former WEC Champion Benson Henderson, a matchup first announced after Henderson's win over Clay Guida at UFC on FOX.
UFC Japan – or UFC 144 – will also feature the return to Land of the Rising Sun of Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, one of the biggest stars in the sport, in a bout which will mark the 6th anniversary to the day of his last fight in Japan. Jackson faces rising star Ryan Bader, whose most recent win came just two weeks ago at UFC 139 in San Jose.
Other key matchups feature Mark Hunt, a veteran of Japanese kickboxing, versus French heavyweight contender Cheick Kongo; and Japanese superstar Yoshihiro Akiyama dropping weight divisions to meet the always dangerous Jake Shields in the welterweight division. Rounding out the main card will be a lightweight bout pitting the underrated Joe Lauzon, coming off a stunning 67-second submission over Melvin Guillard, against former WEC champion Anthony Pettis.
Other bouts on that card feature Japan's biggest MMA stars. Riki Fukuda will fight in a middleweight match against Steve "The Robot: Cantwell. "Kid" Yamamoto will go to battle against British bantamweight Vaughan Lee, fighting for the first time in almost two years in his home
country.
Perennial top-10 bantamweight Takeya Mizugaki will square off against Chris Cariaso. And lightweight knockout artist Takanori Gomi will meet submission expert George Sotiropoulos.
Japan's most promising title contender, Hatsu Hioki, will face Bart Palaszewski in a featherweight showdown. Hioki made his UFC debut by beating tough veteran, George Roop, while Palaszewski had a spectacular debut at his new weight with a big KO win over Tyson Griffin."
Plus, China's Tiequan Zhang and the always-game Leonard Garcia have agreed to meet inside the Octagon on that date.
All of the bouts mentioned are verbally agreed upon and subject to change.
Pettis vs. Lauzon Booked for Japan updated November 15
“Verbal agreements are in for a match between two of the most exciting lightweights in the sport as Joe ‘J-Lau’ Lauzon will face Anthony ‘Showtime’ Pettis February 26th in Saitama, Japan,” confirmed UFC president Dana White today.
Rumors of the matchup surfaced after Lauzon's 47-second blitz win over then-top contender Melvin Guillard at UFC 136. Pettis told an interviewer he'd welcome a chance to fight Lauzon; shortly thereafter, Lauzon posted a video blog in agreeing to the bout.
Okami Returns in Feb. Against Boetsch update November 15
Middleweight contender Yushin Okami will get a home game in his first
bout since his UFC </a>134 clash with Anderson Silva when he takes on Tim
Boetsch in UFC 144 action on February 26th.
“Undefeated since
dropping down to middleweight, Tim ‘The Barbarian’ Boetsch has verbally
agreed to face top three ranked Yushin ‘Thunder’ Okami February 26th in Saitama, Japan,” said UFC President Dana White.
Akiyama Makes Welterweight Debut against Shields updated November 14
Japanese superstar Yoshihiro Akiyama will have plenty of support from
his home country fans on February 26th, when he makes his welterweight
debut in UFC 144 action against 170-pound contender Jake Shields at
Saitama Super Arena in Japan.
“Verbal agreements are in for a
welterweight matchup in Saitama, Japan between former Strikeforce champion
Jake Shields and Asian superstar ‘Sexyama’ Yoshihiro Akiyama February
26th,” said UFC President Dana White.
Posted on 30 January 2012 | 1:00 am
UFC officials have confirmed that welterweight Jorge Lopez has been forced to withdraw from his UFC 143 bout against Matthew Riddle due to injury. Stepping in will be 8-1 Jackson's MMA fighter Henry Martinez. Riddle himself was tapped as a replacement on the fight card when Lopez' original opponent, Amir Sadollah, was injured.
Second Injury Twist in UFC 143 Matchup updated January 20
The welterweight matchup between Justin Edwards and Mike Stumpf has been completely overwritten as both men have withrdrawn due to injury.
Last week it was confirmed that Stephen Thompson would step in for Mike Stumpf. This week, Edwards was also injured. Stepping in is 7-1 submission ace Dan Stittgen, who will make his UFC debut alongside Thompson at UFC 143.
Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson Debuts at UFC 143 updated January 10
With Mike Stumpf forced out of UFC 143 due to injury, undefeated Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson has agreed to fill in and make his UFC debut on short notice. Thompson will now face TUF 13's Justin Edwards at the February 4 event in Las Vegas.
Third Opponent the Charm for The Diamond? updated January 5
Highly-touted featherweight prospect Dustin "The Diamond" Poirier has received yet another opponent for his UFC 143 bout in Las Vegas. After injuries sidelined original opponent Erik Koch and replacement Ricardo Lamas, Poirier will now face newcomer Max Holloway in a potential slugfest.
"Holloway is relatively new to the sport but possesses a fierce striking game and has already faced very experienced opposition with his rise into the spotlight," said UFC president Dana White. At 20 years old, the undefeated Holloway will step in as one of the youngest fighters in the UFC.
UFC 143's Sadollah, Lamas Both Injured updated January 3
Two more injuries have hit the February Las Vegas fight card.
TUF 7 winner Amir Sadollah has been injured. Stepping in to face Wanderlei-Silva trained striker Jorge Lopez will be welterweight Matthew Riddle. - verbal agreements are in for this matchup. Riddle was slated to scrap at this past weekend's UFC 141, but forced to withdraw at the zero hour due to illness.
Also on that card, featherweight Dustin Poirier has lost his second opponent, as Ricardo Lamas has been injured. Lamas was only recently announced as the replacement for Poirier's original opponent, Erik Koch, who was also hurt. A replacement is expected to be named shortly.
Starks vs. Short Fuse at UFC 143 updated December 10
Undefeated Clifford Starks has verbally agreed to put his 8-0 record on the line against Ed "Short Fuse" Herman in a middleweight matchup at UFC 143.
Starks made his UFC debut with a decision win over Dustin Jacoby in October; Herman's last two performances included a 48-second TKO and a devastating heel-hook victory.
More Welterweight Action Scheduled for UFC 143 updated December 23
Despite welterweights Nick Diaz, Carlos Condit, Josh Koscheck, and Mike Pierce already topping the bill on February 4th's UFC 143 card in Las Vegas, there's always more room for top-notch 170-pounders, and that's what fans will get, as UFC President Dana White announced two more verbally agreed to bouts between Matt "The Immortal" Brown and Chris Cope, and Justin Edwards and Mike Stumpf.
Nelson vs. Werdum Set for UFC 143 updated December 21
Fresh from his knockout win over Mirko Cro Cop in October, Roy "Big Country" Nelson will welcome longtime contender Fabricio Werdum back to the Octagon for an intriguing heavyweight clash on February 4th's UFC </a>143 card in Las Vegas.
Lamas Replaces Koch in Deciding Featherweight Bout updated December 20
An injury has forced Erik Koch out of his UFC 143 contenders' match against Dustin Poirier, UFC president Dana White confirmed today. Fellow rising 145er Ricardo Lamas, has stepped up to fill the open slot.
"Lamas is coming off a knockout victory followed by a Submission of The
Night' win in his last two spectacular outings; while Poirier is a highly-touted power-punching prospect looking to make his case for a host at the title" said White. Both fighters have
verbally agreed to the bout.
Mike Pierce Gets Josh Koscheck at 143 updated December 8
"With Carlos Condit moving to face Nick Diaz for the interim welterweight championship, it will be powerhouse wrestler vs. powerhouse wrestler as Mike Pierce takes on Josh Koscheck at UFC </a>143," announced UFC president Dana White today.
Yesterday's card switch-up left Koscheck, who'd been slated to fight Condit, without an opponent. Pierce, who's quietly racked up wins in four of his last five outings, publicly lobbied for the high-profile matchup against Koscheck, first during a radio interview and then via Twitter.
Also on that card, two of the world's best bantamweights have verbally agreed to meet: Scott Jorgensen will battle Renan Barao, who hasn't lost in his last 30 fights - the longest unbeaten streak in the sport,
Diaz/Condit to Headline 143 for Interim Belt updated December 7
For the second time in two months, welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre has been injured and forced to withdraw from a title defense.
"GSP blown acl will be out for 10 mos. Now [Carlos] Condit vs [Nick] Diaz for the interim welterweight title on Feb 4th in Las Vegas!!" UFC president Dana White tweeted.
St-Pierre was originally slated to face Diaz in the main event of UFC 137; Diaz was then replaced by Carlos Condit.
Ground, Striking Technicians Braced for UFC 143 updated Nov 29
Verbal agreements are in for a welterweight matchup between two exciting strikers as Wanderlei Silva protégé Jorge Lopez takes on Ultimate Fighter winner Amir Sadollah at UFC 143.
In addition, “undefeated Judo specialist Michael Kuiper has verbally agreed to make his UFC debut at UFC 143 against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu champion Rafael 'Sapo' Natal,” UFC president Dana White announced today.
The Super Bowl weekend fight card is headlined by the once-cancelled welterweight title scrap between reigning UFC champion Georges St-Pierre and former Strikeforce king Nick Diaz. Welterweight contenders Josh Koscheck and Carlos Condit will battle in the co-main event.
Bruce Leeroy Geared Up to Glow at UFC 143 updated November 17
A fan-friendly scrap is on tap with Edwin Figueroa set to throw down with Alex "Bruce Leeroy" Caceres at UFC 143 in Las Vegas on February 4th. "Both fighters are coming off impressive victories in the bantamweight division," said UFC president Dana White. Verbal agreements are in place for the bout.
Koch, Poirier Lined Up for February Fireworks updated November 15
Two of the fastest-rising stars in the featherweight division will finally face off as Erik Koch and Dustin Poirier have verbally agreed to a bout at UFC </a>143, scheduled for Super Bowl weekend in Las Vegas.
Both Koch and Poirier are dynamic strikers and undefeated in the UFC. A win for either of the WEC vets would catapault him toward the top of the division.
Posted on 30 January 2012 | 1:00 am
ufc.tv/photo_galleries/UFConFOX2_Evans_Davis/10_Evans_Davis_09.jpg" align="left">EVANS UNDOUBTEDLY DISAPPOINTED, BUT IT WAS THE RIGHT APPROACHRashad Evans will be the first to admit that his win over
Phil Davis, while completely one-sided, was far from pretty. Evans controlled his younger, larger foe from bell to bell with far quicker strikes, much more effective takedowns and vastly superior grappling. The problem is that Evans failed to put away his overmatched opponent. And the failure to end fights has become an albatross around Evans’ neck in recent fights, the recent knockout win over
Tito Ortiz notwithstanding.
The opportunities were there. Evans could have stepped up his standup, opting to sit down more on his punches and increase the volume in search of a crowd-thrilling knockout. He also could have taken more chances on the ground in search of a submission or stoppage due to strikes. He did none of those things. Evans instead remained focused on completely controlling the action without really taking any chances, which made the bout feel more like a sparring session than a fight.
It is no secret that I have criticized the former champion more than once for his conservative approach to competition. Not this time. In fact, I am going to take the opposite view of his performance. I applaud Evans for the intelligent victory. Why? He did what he had to do in order to give the fans the biggest light heavyweight bout out there – the long-awaited grudge match with champion
Jon Jones on April 21.
Evans knew going into the fight with Davis that, if he won, there would only be 84 days to heal up, rejuvenate his body and properly prepare for what could be the most significant fight of his career. He also knew that the short turnaround time meant the opportunity to face Jones would go to someone else, likely
Dan Henderson, if he sustained anything more than a very minor injury against Davis. So, Evans did what he needed to do in order to set the stage for 2012’s first true mega fight and likely the most lucrative payday of his career.
I know. I know. Saturday was the biggest and brightest stage that Evans has ever performed on. This was a golden opportunity for “Suga” to turn himself into a fighting legend. But all that pales in comparison to securing the mouth-watering matchup with Jones. I’m sure many will take the opposite view, but this was one time when I completely support his decision to fight with a conservative approach. Well done, champ.
DAVIS LEARNS VALUABLE LESSONPhil Davis was a much better collegiate wrestler than Rashad Evans. That much was obvious from their respective Big Ten careers. Evans, however, is a much better mixed martial arts wrestler. That was equally obvious from Saturday’s fight.
Davis needs to learn how to transition his elite wrestling skills into effective fighting techniques. I have no doubt that he will do just that, but it sometimes takes a wrestling reality check, like the one he received courtesy of Evans, to force the issue for someone with his amateur chops. Davis should focus on learning how to use strikes to set up his power double. He needs to better develop his clinch game so that he can execute judo-style throws and pull off high-crotch takedowns. And he needs to learn how to strike while still maintaining his balance so he can effectively sprawl. Once he does those things, the sky is the limit for this guy.
By the way, was it just me or did Davis look like he was a full weight class bigger than Evans? He looked absolutely huge inside the cage. I have no idea how much weight he cuts, but one has to assume that it is a significant amount. It would not shock me to see Davis pull an
Alistair Overeem and put on a bunch of muscle in search of a run at heavyweight sometime in the next couple of years.
DID THE PRESSURE GET TO SONNEN?Let’s get right to the point.
Chael Sonnen had better hope that his performance against
Michael Bisping was an off night. Otherwise, he is going to get brutalized by
Anderson Silva this summer.
Sonnen appeared gassed as early as the end of the first round. His takedowns throughout the fight seemed telegraphed and lethargic. And his strikes were as robotic as usual.
Those are harsh words, I know. But this is a guy who repeatedly claimed heading into the fight that he was “undefeated” and “undisputed.” He walked around with a fake championship belt. And, in true WWE style, he delivered a message about a “disclaimer” with the affect and cadence of a heel hoping to appear intimidating. It was fun stuff. Even Bisping acknowledged that the banter was entertaining.
Boastful words like those, however, create tremendous pressure to deliver an impressive performance. Sonnen won, but he didn’t back up his words. Indeed, some, including maestro commentator Joe Rogan, felt that Bisping should have been awarded the victory. For the record, I agree. But the fight was close enough that nobody can really complain in earnest about the judges’ scores, other than maybe the one judge who saw it 30-27 in favor of Sonnen.
The former title challenger’s struggles against Bisping weren’t wholly unexpected. “The Count” is one of the most difficult middleweights to take down, and he is even more difficult to hold down. What was completely unexpected was Sonnen apparently running low on gas as early as the end of the first round.
While the Team Quest standout will never be confused with the Energizer Bunny, he is not known as a guy with a particularly small gas tank, either. I have always viewed his cardio as better than average. Yet, it clearly betrayed him on Saturday night.
One has to wonder if the pressure of fighting on broadcast television contributed to the quick depletion of his conditioning. One must further wonder if Sonnen’s own mouth added to the pressure. Those are the likely culprits for performance, absent an unknown injury suffered during training that prevented him from getting into top shape. If that is the case, Sonnen needs to figure out how to deal with that sort of pressure because his next bout will be an even bigger event. And Silva won’t be entering the cage with an injured rib, either.
NOTHING BUT POSITIVES FROM BISPING’S PERFORMANCEAnyone who read my pre-fight breakdown knows that I didn’t give Michael Bisping much of a chance to defeat Chael Sonnen. It wasn’t that I believe Sonnen to be the better fighter. My opinion was solely based on the notion that 11 days wasn’t sufficient time to prepare to defend Sonnen’s takedowns, based on Bisping’s lack of an amateur wrestling pedigree.
The Brit ultimately lost the bout because he was taken down in each round. Nonetheless, he showed tremendous takedown defense and an even more impressive ability to work back to his feet once taken down. Remember, folks, that Sonnen is a former US Olympic alternate in wrestling, whereas Bisping has no amateur wrestling experience at all. Viewed through that filter, his performance on Saturday was nothing short of amazing.
WEIDMAN’S GAMBLE PAYS OFFChris Weidman obviously isn’t afraid of taking risks. With less than two weeks to prepare, Weidman agreed to replace Michael Bisping as
Demian Maia’s opponent for the UFC’s second televised event on FOX. It was the kind of opportunity that could make or break the career of a young fighter like Weidman.
On one hand, a win over a contender on broadcast television is the best possible shot of adrenalin for a young prospect’s marketability. On the flip side, a brutal one-sided loss to Maia, whether by knockout or submission, in front of what was sure to be one of the largest television audiences in the history of MMA doesn’t do much to build interest in future bouts. That second scenario was a very real risk, since it was all but certain that Weidman would gas out, if he didn’t score a stoppage in the first round. There was simply no possible way to get into proper shape in less than two weeks.
Weidman didn’t care. He stepped up to the challenge anyway. He expectedly hit a massive cardio wall early in the second round, but that did nothing to prevent him from gutting out a clear victory over arguably the most dangerous submission artist in the sport.
Weidman’s decision to take the fight against Maia turned out to be a brilliant way to catapult his own career. I don’t know whether it was a calculated risk based on the matchup or just an example of Weidman’s unbreakable confidence in his own skills. Either way, this guy just made himself relevant in the 185-pound division.
MAIA NEEDS TO GO BACK TO HIS ROOTSMaia’s dramatic change in style from grappler to striker over the last few years has done nothing to improve him as a fighter. Quite the opposite is actually true. Maia is a very predictable striker, one that a guy like Weidman would have no qualms about facing on short notice. By contrast, Maia is the single-most dangerous ground fighter in the sport, in my opinion. Remember him basically throwing Chael Sonnen on his head before quickly submitting him with a perfectly executed triangle choke? This is the same Chael Sonnen who almost defeated Anderson Silva.
I will forever wonder why Maia chose to work back to his feet, rather than work his submission game, on the two occasions that Weidman took him to the ground. Those takedowns were the only glaring mistakes by committed Weidman during the bout, in my opinion. They were perfect opportunities for the Brazilian to score an impressive win over his exhausted foe. Yet, Maia did nothing with them.
Can you imagine the Maia of 2008 wasting those opportunities? Me neither.
Someone in Maia’s team needs to sit this guy down for a major heart-to-heart. At 34-years-old, there isn’t enough time left in his career to evolve into Anderson Silva or
Vitor Belfort on the feet. It just isn’t going to happen for Maia. Sure, he needs to continue to improve his overall skills if he wants to rise to the top of the division. Yes, he needs to continue to develop his striking to make himself a more dangerous fighter. But he should never forget what made him great in the first place—his otherworldly submission game.
Allow me the egomaniacal moment of suggesting the best way for Maia to maximize his game. First and foremost, he needs to learn how to strike with his right hand. That lone improvement will make him more effective in the standup game. Next, he needs to learn how to use strikes to set up takedowns. Third, he should work takedown after takedown, until he actually starts to believe in that part of his game.
As mentioned, Maia isn’t going to develop into a homerun hitter on the feet. No chance. And he isn’t going to turn into a stick-and-move guy any time soon, either. So, outpointing guys on the feet like Silva, Belfort, Bisping, Munoz, Okami or other top middleweights not named Sonnen probably isn’t in the cards.
His game plan for every fight should focus on getting the fight to the ground. His striking should be solely focused on setting up takedowns—period. Abandoning his world class submission game is the biggest crime being committed in the UFC at the moment. Getting guys to the ground will always present the best opportunity for Maia to win. I’ll take him all day every day against any middleweight in the world, including Anderson Silva, in a ground-focused fight. I feel the exact opposite about standup-focused fights.
Posted on 30 January 2012 | 1:00 am