Showing posts with label UFC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label UFC. Show all posts
Saturday, 17 January 2015
John 'Doomsday' Howard Calls out CM Punk
Add John “Doomsday” Howard to the list of UFC fighters who have challenged Phil “CM Punk” Brooks.
The UFC’s recent signing of the former WWE superstar has drawn a mixed bag of opinions from fighters, media and fans. Among those to mention fighting him are Cathal Pendred, and now Doomsday says he’s up to the task.We don’t know who Punk’s first opponent in the UFC is going to be, but it’s a safe bet it won’t be Howard.
A fight between the two might not be out of the question if Brooks racks up several wins and gradually gets to the Howard’s level of competition, but it would be a disastrous matchup for him right out of the gate.
Nonetheless, Howard said he is ready should the UFC need someone to get in the cage with CM Punk:
Source bleacherreport.com/articles/2332798-john-doomsday-howard-calls-out-cm-punk
10 MMA Fighters Who Need a Big 2015
By most accounts, MMA didn't see its best year in 2014. For the first time in a long time, the sport had to march forth without any of its biggest stars.
Anderson Silva was mending his broken leg. Georges St-Pierre was taking a leave of absence. Brock Lesnar was busy making history elsewhere, pinning the Undertaker under the WrestleMania lights for the first time in The Deadman's storied pro wrestling career.
Even the stars who fought in their stead couldn't remain healthy enough to carry the load.
But now we embark onto 2015, a year that should already excite most fans—so long as the following fighters have big years of their own. Scroll on as we list the fighters who need to have a big 2015.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2327945-10-mma-fighters-who-need-a-big-2015
Anderson Silva was mending his broken leg. Georges St-Pierre was taking a leave of absence. Brock Lesnar was busy making history elsewhere, pinning the Undertaker under the WrestleMania lights for the first time in The Deadman's storied pro wrestling career.
Even the stars who fought in their stead couldn't remain healthy enough to carry the load.
But now we embark onto 2015, a year that should already excite most fans—so long as the following fighters have big years of their own. Scroll on as we list the fighters who need to have a big 2015.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2327945-10-mma-fighters-who-need-a-big-2015
UFC Fight Night 59: McGregor vs. Siver Main Card Betting Odds and Predictions
At UFC Fight Night 59, Conor McGregor will look to take another step closer to the featherweight championship in a showcase matchup against Dennis Siver, who has his sights set on spoiling the party.
With four wins in as many UFC appearances, McGregor has had a meteoric rise in the 145-pound division. His showmanship has expedited his trip toward the top of the featherweight rankings, but the Irishman didn't get there without big wins, as he's coming off a knockout victory over Dustin Poirier.
In October, Siver returned from a suspension and defeated Charles Rosa. It wasn't the type of win that would normally earn a fighter a bout of this magnitude, but Siver might just be a sacrificial lamb of sorts heading into UFC Fight Night 59 and will have to play spoiler to earn some respect.
Also featuring a third meeting between Donald Cerrone and Benson Henderson, Sunday's event is one that MMA fans won't want to miss. Here are the current main card betting odds, via OddsShark.com, along with predictions for each matchup.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2331691-ufc-fight-night-59-mcgregor-vs-siver-main-card-betting-odds-and-predictions
Fight Night 59: Gleison Tibau out to Expose Norman Parke
The UFC's lightweight division is arguably the most stacked collection of combatants under the promotion's banner, and there is no fighter in that group with more Octagon experience than Gleison Tibau.
The Brazilian powerhouse has competed under the UFC banner for the better part of a decade, and along the way, he has made 23 appearances inside the cage. While there have been winning streaks and setbacks alike, the American Top Team product has remained a staple in the 155-pound fold while plenty of other fighters have come and gone.
Nevertheless, Tibau has seemingly found his groove as of late and has been steadily climbing up the rankings of the lightweight division. The 31-year-old Florida transplant has broken out of his "get one, give one" rut and has made substantial progress toward a top-10 spot over the past year, as he's won four of his five showings inside the Octagon—with his two most recent outings both resulting in victories.
He will be looking to keep that momentum rolling when he squares off with highly touted scrapper Norman Parke at Fight Night 59 this Sunday night in Boston.
The Northern Ireland representative has proved to be a talented upstart in the lightweight ranks, and Tibau has every intention of derailing Parke's progress when the cage door closes on Sunday.
"I believe my experience inside the Octagon is going to play a huge factor in this fight when we go into deep waters," Tibau told Bleacher Report with the assistance of a translator. "I've been there many times and I'm going to force him to make a mistake, then I'm going to capitalize on it and apply a submission or get the knockout.
"Everyone keeps talking about his ground game and his jiu-jitsu game. But guess what? He's never faced anyone in his entire career at my level of skill on the ground. I feel it's great that Parke feels confident on the ground. Thank God. Let's go ahead and go to the ground in this fight and find out who is the better grappler. He's going to have a rude awakening when he goes to the ground with me."While Tibau's immediate focus is locked on handing Parke his first defeat in nearly five years, his larger goal is to finally break through into title contention. It has been a long road for the stocky Brazilian, one where finding consistent success has been difficult to come by.
That said, Tibau believes the changes he's made in camp and the adjustments he's implemented in his game will allow him to battle his way to the upper tier of a division that continues to grow more competitive year by year.
Tibau wants to run the proverbial table in 2015, and the first step in that plan lies in his ability to defeat Parke at Fight Night 59.
"After my last loss, we changed a few things in our camp and in training," Tibau said. "We tried to correct mistakes and figure out why we were inconsistent. We tried to figure out why we would win two fights, then lose one and continue to stay in that trend. We tried to minimize as much as we could to address these problems.
"We changed the diet a little bit because that's a huge part of my camp. My weight loss is easier now and I'm more focused than I've ever been before. It is my goal to go through 2015 undefeated.
"I have the most fights and the most wins in the lightweight division. I'm the third-most active fighter in UFC history, but what is missing in all of that is consistency. I win two and lose one, but I'm going to change that in 2015. It is my goal to finish this year undefeated with a good run against tough opponents. When I do that, I will be very close to a top-five ranking or possibly get a title shot by the end of the year."
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2332462-fight-night-59-gleison-tibau-out-to-expose-norman-parke
The Brazilian powerhouse has competed under the UFC banner for the better part of a decade, and along the way, he has made 23 appearances inside the cage. While there have been winning streaks and setbacks alike, the American Top Team product has remained a staple in the 155-pound fold while plenty of other fighters have come and gone.
Nevertheless, Tibau has seemingly found his groove as of late and has been steadily climbing up the rankings of the lightweight division. The 31-year-old Florida transplant has broken out of his "get one, give one" rut and has made substantial progress toward a top-10 spot over the past year, as he's won four of his five showings inside the Octagon—with his two most recent outings both resulting in victories.
He will be looking to keep that momentum rolling when he squares off with highly touted scrapper Norman Parke at Fight Night 59 this Sunday night in Boston.
The Northern Ireland representative has proved to be a talented upstart in the lightweight ranks, and Tibau has every intention of derailing Parke's progress when the cage door closes on Sunday.
"I believe my experience inside the Octagon is going to play a huge factor in this fight when we go into deep waters," Tibau told Bleacher Report with the assistance of a translator. "I've been there many times and I'm going to force him to make a mistake, then I'm going to capitalize on it and apply a submission or get the knockout.
"Everyone keeps talking about his ground game and his jiu-jitsu game. But guess what? He's never faced anyone in his entire career at my level of skill on the ground. I feel it's great that Parke feels confident on the ground. Thank God. Let's go ahead and go to the ground in this fight and find out who is the better grappler. He's going to have a rude awakening when he goes to the ground with me."While Tibau's immediate focus is locked on handing Parke his first defeat in nearly five years, his larger goal is to finally break through into title contention. It has been a long road for the stocky Brazilian, one where finding consistent success has been difficult to come by.
That said, Tibau believes the changes he's made in camp and the adjustments he's implemented in his game will allow him to battle his way to the upper tier of a division that continues to grow more competitive year by year.
Tibau wants to run the proverbial table in 2015, and the first step in that plan lies in his ability to defeat Parke at Fight Night 59.
"After my last loss, we changed a few things in our camp and in training," Tibau said. "We tried to correct mistakes and figure out why we were inconsistent. We tried to figure out why we would win two fights, then lose one and continue to stay in that trend. We tried to minimize as much as we could to address these problems.
"We changed the diet a little bit because that's a huge part of my camp. My weight loss is easier now and I'm more focused than I've ever been before. It is my goal to go through 2015 undefeated.
"I have the most fights and the most wins in the lightweight division. I'm the third-most active fighter in UFC history, but what is missing in all of that is consistency. I win two and lose one, but I'm going to change that in 2015. It is my goal to finish this year undefeated with a good run against tough opponents. When I do that, I will be very close to a top-five ranking or possibly get a title shot by the end of the year."
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2332462-fight-night-59-gleison-tibau-out-to-expose-norman-parke
UFC Fight Night: Irishman Conor McGregor Is Dreaming Big in Boston
O'Connell Street in Dublin, Ireland, is one of the world's iconic thruways. Reborn in the late 1990s, it's a beautiful testament to Ireland itself, celebrating the past while also looking forward to a promising future.
Lining the street are statues, representing great Irishmen from years gone by. Most people look at these great men and reminisce, recalling the Eire's many contributions to the world.
But Conor McGregor is not "most people." The budding UFC star, who headlines the UFC's card on Fox Sports 1 Sunday against Dennis Siver, walks O'Connell Street, the signature pedestrian area of his hometown, and sees not just forgotten icons and the dust of history—he sees opportunity.
"I look at that and now I want a statue," he told Bleacher Report in an exclusive interview. "Now I can't wait to get my own statue up there...we will bring Jose Aldo over to Dublin, we will fill out a 90,000-seat football stadium in Croke Park.
"Croke Park is also a stadium we fought for our independence in. The British invaded the pitch in a tank and opened fire on the players and the fans. So it is a place that has seen blood and seen battle as well. So we will bring Jose Aldo over...and we will do battle once more. And I believe I will raise that belt in my home country. And I will demand a statue post-fight."
While that may reek of delusional grandeur, McGregor is not alone in seeing a very bright future for himself. Suffice to say, the UFC is plenty excited about its new star, elevating him from the prelims to the main event in record time. He has an easy charisma and a gift for trash talk unsurpassed in MMA history.
It's hard to compare him to anyone, because there is no prologue. The closest you can come is Chael Sonnen, but a version of Chael without the ironic detachment. Sonnen was performing, removed ever so slightly from his sometimes buffoonish material. He winked at his audience, letting us all know he was okay with the fact we were in on the act.
McGregor has the same gilded tongue, but his bravado is rooted in authenticity. When Sonnen was telling the world that he'd never lost a round, despite 14 career losses, it was understood he was putting us on. When McGregor says he's the best fighter in the world, you get the sense that he really believes it.
"It's more truth-talking," McGregor explained. "I don't speak trash. I speak truth. Occasionally I might throw in a little insult here or there, but this is the Irish way. I speak the truth. If I feel something is the way it is, I will say it. I will let it be known. Some people can't handle the truth. That's not my problem."
That's a subtle distinction—but an important one."There's not really a disrespectful undertone to it," Fox Sports 1 announcer Jon Anik said. "It is refreshing that someone can speak the truth. Even though there is some ego and some arrogance, I really think he's speaking from the heart."
It goes a long way towards explaining why the UFC, normally an exceedingly cautious promotion, has put its collective pedal to the metal. President Dana White calls him the biggest star the promotion has ever seen, outpacing Georges St-Pierre, Chuck Liddell and even Brock Lesnar. UFC owner Lorenzo Fertitta, not usually as prone to hyperbole, compared the young Irishman to Muhammad Ali. "I was on an Irish talk show, and the presenter compared me to Muhammad Ali. I could not take something like that. He is up there. He is a god. He done what he done in a hostile time. For someone to consider that, because I certainly would not consider that, that is an honor to me," McGregor said. "... He changed the face, not only of this game, but the face of the world. He was outspoken. He fought for what he believed in. He was a legend and a hero. I look up to him...he was a hero of mine, the way he carried himself."
McGregor, being McGregor, has an Ali story of his own, one that started with the kind of street fight that defined his youth.
"I slipped a punch. And I shuffled my shoulders and said 'Muhammad Ali.' And threw a shot," McGregor remembered, recalling the fight as vividly as any of his professional prize fights. "I done the Ali shuffle! I'm only 11 years old and did the Ali shuffle and threw a left hook."
It was a tale that began in glory and ended with McGregor being stomped by five of his opponents friends. But he tells it with a smile. He seems to do most things that way.
Whether he's ready or not, McGregor is here. No longer the future of the sport, at 26, he's the present. He's one of five fighters signed to an individual deal with Reebok, a sign of where he stands as well as the heights UFC hopes he's able to climb.So far, McGregor has had all the answers. Against a middling crop of UFC featherweights, he's looked like the kind of fighter who warrants the outlandish praise. But what happens when they are posed by a higher caliber of foe?
We've seen him venture into the Top 10 once, and make short work of Dustin Poirier. Anik, for his part, is confident that the man who has all the answers in the media will have them in the cage against Siver as well.
"We know he has great mic skills. We know he has great self-belief. But I think a lot of people wonder if he's also an elite fighter. I think he is," Anik said. "He's on the brink of superstardom. I'm a believer. I have been since early on. He thrives under pressure—and there's going to be a whole batch of it Sunday night."
Conor McGregor fights Dennis Siver in the main event Sunday at the TD Arena in Boston. The main card begins at 10 P.M. ET on Fox Sports 1.
Jonathan Snowden is Bleacher Report's Lead Combat Sports Writer. All quotes were acquired first hand. Special thanks to Duane Finley and Pete Tenney for additional reportage.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2332978-ufc-fight-night-irishman-conor-mcgregor-is-dreaming-big-in-boston
Lining the street are statues, representing great Irishmen from years gone by. Most people look at these great men and reminisce, recalling the Eire's many contributions to the world.
But Conor McGregor is not "most people." The budding UFC star, who headlines the UFC's card on Fox Sports 1 Sunday against Dennis Siver, walks O'Connell Street, the signature pedestrian area of his hometown, and sees not just forgotten icons and the dust of history—he sees opportunity.
"I look at that and now I want a statue," he told Bleacher Report in an exclusive interview. "Now I can't wait to get my own statue up there...we will bring Jose Aldo over to Dublin, we will fill out a 90,000-seat football stadium in Croke Park.
"Croke Park is also a stadium we fought for our independence in. The British invaded the pitch in a tank and opened fire on the players and the fans. So it is a place that has seen blood and seen battle as well. So we will bring Jose Aldo over...and we will do battle once more. And I believe I will raise that belt in my home country. And I will demand a statue post-fight."
While that may reek of delusional grandeur, McGregor is not alone in seeing a very bright future for himself. Suffice to say, the UFC is plenty excited about its new star, elevating him from the prelims to the main event in record time. He has an easy charisma and a gift for trash talk unsurpassed in MMA history.
It's hard to compare him to anyone, because there is no prologue. The closest you can come is Chael Sonnen, but a version of Chael without the ironic detachment. Sonnen was performing, removed ever so slightly from his sometimes buffoonish material. He winked at his audience, letting us all know he was okay with the fact we were in on the act.
McGregor has the same gilded tongue, but his bravado is rooted in authenticity. When Sonnen was telling the world that he'd never lost a round, despite 14 career losses, it was understood he was putting us on. When McGregor says he's the best fighter in the world, you get the sense that he really believes it.
"It's more truth-talking," McGregor explained. "I don't speak trash. I speak truth. Occasionally I might throw in a little insult here or there, but this is the Irish way. I speak the truth. If I feel something is the way it is, I will say it. I will let it be known. Some people can't handle the truth. That's not my problem."
That's a subtle distinction—but an important one."There's not really a disrespectful undertone to it," Fox Sports 1 announcer Jon Anik said. "It is refreshing that someone can speak the truth. Even though there is some ego and some arrogance, I really think he's speaking from the heart."
It goes a long way towards explaining why the UFC, normally an exceedingly cautious promotion, has put its collective pedal to the metal. President Dana White calls him the biggest star the promotion has ever seen, outpacing Georges St-Pierre, Chuck Liddell and even Brock Lesnar. UFC owner Lorenzo Fertitta, not usually as prone to hyperbole, compared the young Irishman to Muhammad Ali. "I was on an Irish talk show, and the presenter compared me to Muhammad Ali. I could not take something like that. He is up there. He is a god. He done what he done in a hostile time. For someone to consider that, because I certainly would not consider that, that is an honor to me," McGregor said. "... He changed the face, not only of this game, but the face of the world. He was outspoken. He fought for what he believed in. He was a legend and a hero. I look up to him...he was a hero of mine, the way he carried himself."
McGregor, being McGregor, has an Ali story of his own, one that started with the kind of street fight that defined his youth.
"I slipped a punch. And I shuffled my shoulders and said 'Muhammad Ali.' And threw a shot," McGregor remembered, recalling the fight as vividly as any of his professional prize fights. "I done the Ali shuffle! I'm only 11 years old and did the Ali shuffle and threw a left hook."
It was a tale that began in glory and ended with McGregor being stomped by five of his opponents friends. But he tells it with a smile. He seems to do most things that way.
Whether he's ready or not, McGregor is here. No longer the future of the sport, at 26, he's the present. He's one of five fighters signed to an individual deal with Reebok, a sign of where he stands as well as the heights UFC hopes he's able to climb.So far, McGregor has had all the answers. Against a middling crop of UFC featherweights, he's looked like the kind of fighter who warrants the outlandish praise. But what happens when they are posed by a higher caliber of foe?
We've seen him venture into the Top 10 once, and make short work of Dustin Poirier. Anik, for his part, is confident that the man who has all the answers in the media will have them in the cage against Siver as well.
"We know he has great mic skills. We know he has great self-belief. But I think a lot of people wonder if he's also an elite fighter. I think he is," Anik said. "He's on the brink of superstardom. I'm a believer. I have been since early on. He thrives under pressure—and there's going to be a whole batch of it Sunday night."
Conor McGregor fights Dennis Siver in the main event Sunday at the TD Arena in Boston. The main card begins at 10 P.M. ET on Fox Sports 1.
Jonathan Snowden is Bleacher Report's Lead Combat Sports Writer. All quotes were acquired first hand. Special thanks to Duane Finley and Pete Tenney for additional reportage.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2332978-ufc-fight-night-irishman-conor-mcgregor-is-dreaming-big-in-boston
Thursday, 15 January 2015
Donald Cerrone Is Rewriting the Playbook on What It Means to Be a UFC Fighter
Third-ranked UFC lightweight Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone is pegged to make the quickest turnaround of his mixed martial arts career when he faces former lightweight champion, and adversary, Benson Henderson at UFC Fight Night: Boston.
Cowboy, who's no stranger to taking a fight on short notice, does it one more time when he fills in for an ill Eddie Alvarez. The 31-year-old went against UFC President Dana White's wishes and accepted the proposal for his second fight in 15 days.
For Cerrone, his will to fight is all natural. Diagnosed with attention deficit disorder when he was a child, Cowboy got into fights often. Since his debut in the UFC in February 2011, he has fought 16 times.
"There's no name that comes across the table that I'm like, ‘oh damn, I'm can't take that.' No, let's go. Let's fight. It's what we do. It's what I'm paid to do. It's my job," Cerrone told MMA Fighting.
Some might say he's redefining what it means to be a mixed martial artist. You'll never find Cerrone filming a season of The Ultimate Fighter or waiting in line for a title shot. Like the Budweiser brand he sponsors, Cowboy is simply down for whatever. Life is never at a standstill for the Jackson/Winkeljohn MMA product. The known extreme-sport junkie is always pushing boundaries in and out of the Octagon. So when it came time to assess his win over Myles Jury at UFC 182, Cerrone remained critical of his performance.
Cerrone, who at first had hopes of fighting on the upcoming UFC card in his hometown of Denver, Colorado, now will take aim at a man he is very familiar with. Henderson, the former 155-pound champ who tied B.J. Penn for most title defenses in the division's history, bested Cowboy in two previous burgeoning meetings in the WEC.
But you would be mistaken if you thought that the man, who collects performance bonuses as fast as White changes his mind, hasn't changed in the five years since the two fought. Cerrone has only lost three times in the UFC and is the owner of a six-fight win streak. He can ill-afford to lose at this juncture if he wants a crack at the belt, and no one knows what he's risking more than Cowboy.
“I wouldn’t take this fight on short notice, one, if I wasn’t sh-t bat loony, and two, if I didn’t think I could beat Ben,” he told MMA Junkie. “I’m excited and confident and trying to go out there Sunday night and whip the sh-t out of him."
He's honed all of his tools in this winning streak that has spanned over 14 months. One of the division's most electrifying fighters, Cerrone is accomplished anywhere the fight goes and will undoubtedly make life difficult for Henderson.
Both men are incredibly difficult to submit, hard to take down and are known for their nasty kicks. Each of them are hungry to get back in the hunt for gold.
When the Cowboy has lost it has been when he has lost control of his emotions, or had been controlled on the ground. Losing does not just erase his streak but it will force him to contemplate whether he is truly part of the lightweight division's elite.
Two of Cerrone's three UFC losses have come against the current champion, Anthony Pettis, and the current top contender, Rafael dos Anjos. Henderson also knows both well, having lost to both Pettis and, most recently, Dos Anjos at UFC Fight Night back on August 23.
It's hard not to like Cowboy. His persona—one of a blue-collar, beer-drinking, action-sports fanatic—transcends various age groups. He's a company guy— a "yes" man—who will take on whoever, whenever. Will that be what ultimately leads to his downfall?
There are benefits to fighting as often as Cerrone does; the pay is great. He's racked up $500,000 in performance bonuses, inside the UFC, and typically earns in the range of $125,000-$150,000 per fight.
And could it also have just a little bit to do with the fact that he loves fighting, so much that preparation isn't a concern in his bout with Henderson?
"Prepare? S--t, I don't even have enough time to prepare a cake," Cerrone remarked during the conference call for UFC Boston. "What are you talking about, prepare? I'm just going in there fighting. I've got enough time to cut weight and get to Boston."
He also doesn't think that his second weight cut in the span of a couple of weeks will hinder him much.
"[That's] probably damaging, for sure. But so is cocaine and alcohol, so I think this is a little less," said Cowboy.
In an era where injuries are plentiful, events are canceled and fighters wither away waiting for shots at UFC gold, Cerrone bank and trust is always open for business.
He's rewriting the playbook of how to be an MMA fighter. He's also as durable as they come, having never pulled out of a bout yet in his career. On a January 18 fight night card, that includes a headliner featuring Conor McGregor, Cerrone will look to steal the show against Smooth in Boston.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2326681-donald-cerrone-is-rewriting-the-playbook-on-what-it-means-to-be-a-ufc-fighter
Cowboy, who's no stranger to taking a fight on short notice, does it one more time when he fills in for an ill Eddie Alvarez. The 31-year-old went against UFC President Dana White's wishes and accepted the proposal for his second fight in 15 days.
For Cerrone, his will to fight is all natural. Diagnosed with attention deficit disorder when he was a child, Cowboy got into fights often. Since his debut in the UFC in February 2011, he has fought 16 times.
"There's no name that comes across the table that I'm like, ‘oh damn, I'm can't take that.' No, let's go. Let's fight. It's what we do. It's what I'm paid to do. It's my job," Cerrone told MMA Fighting.
Some might say he's redefining what it means to be a mixed martial artist. You'll never find Cerrone filming a season of The Ultimate Fighter or waiting in line for a title shot. Like the Budweiser brand he sponsors, Cowboy is simply down for whatever. Life is never at a standstill for the Jackson/Winkeljohn MMA product. The known extreme-sport junkie is always pushing boundaries in and out of the Octagon. So when it came time to assess his win over Myles Jury at UFC 182, Cerrone remained critical of his performance.
Cerrone, who at first had hopes of fighting on the upcoming UFC card in his hometown of Denver, Colorado, now will take aim at a man he is very familiar with. Henderson, the former 155-pound champ who tied B.J. Penn for most title defenses in the division's history, bested Cowboy in two previous burgeoning meetings in the WEC.
But you would be mistaken if you thought that the man, who collects performance bonuses as fast as White changes his mind, hasn't changed in the five years since the two fought. Cerrone has only lost three times in the UFC and is the owner of a six-fight win streak. He can ill-afford to lose at this juncture if he wants a crack at the belt, and no one knows what he's risking more than Cowboy.
“I wouldn’t take this fight on short notice, one, if I wasn’t sh-t bat loony, and two, if I didn’t think I could beat Ben,” he told MMA Junkie. “I’m excited and confident and trying to go out there Sunday night and whip the sh-t out of him."
He's honed all of his tools in this winning streak that has spanned over 14 months. One of the division's most electrifying fighters, Cerrone is accomplished anywhere the fight goes and will undoubtedly make life difficult for Henderson.
Both men are incredibly difficult to submit, hard to take down and are known for their nasty kicks. Each of them are hungry to get back in the hunt for gold.
When the Cowboy has lost it has been when he has lost control of his emotions, or had been controlled on the ground. Losing does not just erase his streak but it will force him to contemplate whether he is truly part of the lightweight division's elite.
Two of Cerrone's three UFC losses have come against the current champion, Anthony Pettis, and the current top contender, Rafael dos Anjos. Henderson also knows both well, having lost to both Pettis and, most recently, Dos Anjos at UFC Fight Night back on August 23.
It's hard not to like Cowboy. His persona—one of a blue-collar, beer-drinking, action-sports fanatic—transcends various age groups. He's a company guy— a "yes" man—who will take on whoever, whenever. Will that be what ultimately leads to his downfall?
There are benefits to fighting as often as Cerrone does; the pay is great. He's racked up $500,000 in performance bonuses, inside the UFC, and typically earns in the range of $125,000-$150,000 per fight.
And could it also have just a little bit to do with the fact that he loves fighting, so much that preparation isn't a concern in his bout with Henderson?
"Prepare? S--t, I don't even have enough time to prepare a cake," Cerrone remarked during the conference call for UFC Boston. "What are you talking about, prepare? I'm just going in there fighting. I've got enough time to cut weight and get to Boston."
He also doesn't think that his second weight cut in the span of a couple of weeks will hinder him much.
"[That's] probably damaging, for sure. But so is cocaine and alcohol, so I think this is a little less," said Cowboy.
In an era where injuries are plentiful, events are canceled and fighters wither away waiting for shots at UFC gold, Cerrone bank and trust is always open for business.
He's rewriting the playbook of how to be an MMA fighter. He's also as durable as they come, having never pulled out of a bout yet in his career. On a January 18 fight night card, that includes a headliner featuring Conor McGregor, Cerrone will look to steal the show against Smooth in Boston.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2326681-donald-cerrone-is-rewriting-the-playbook-on-what-it-means-to-be-a-ufc-fighter
MMA in 2014: The Top 10 Submissions
Folks, it was a good year for finishes in MMA. This was especially the case for submissions, as audiences were dazzled by some awesome finishes on the ground.
We saw kimuras, bulldog chokes, neck cranks, triangle armbars and everything in between. It made it very tough to narrow down the best tapouts of 2014, but we've come to a conclusion here.
So, what were the 10 best submissions of the year? Let's take a look now at the masterpieces we were given.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2305420-mma-in-2014-the-top-10-submissions
We saw kimuras, bulldog chokes, neck cranks, triangle armbars and everything in between. It made it very tough to narrow down the best tapouts of 2014, but we've come to a conclusion here.
So, what were the 10 best submissions of the year? Let's take a look now at the masterpieces we were given.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2305420-mma-in-2014-the-top-10-submissions
MMA in 2014: The Top 10 Knockouts
2014 saw fight card after fight card after fight card—almost to the point of tiring some fans out on the product, but having relentless events at least gives us finishes.
MMA certainly gave us plenty of fantastic knockouts this year, but which was the best?
Determining a year-end list like this is very unscientific and has no set criteria. Do the more violent knockouts rank higher, or do knockouts in fights that meant more go to the top of the list? It's a judgment call.
You will see a mixture of both on this list. Circumstances helped elevate some KOs, while it hurt others. The UFC dominates this list, but there is one knockout featured from a promotion other than the sport's leader. The list also features knockouts in two title fights.
Without further ado, here are your top 10 knockouts of 2014. Here's hoping 2015 keeps delivering moments that make us leap out of our chairs.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2324288-mma-in-2014-the-top-10-knockouts
MMA certainly gave us plenty of fantastic knockouts this year, but which was the best?
Determining a year-end list like this is very unscientific and has no set criteria. Do the more violent knockouts rank higher, or do knockouts in fights that meant more go to the top of the list? It's a judgment call.
You will see a mixture of both on this list. Circumstances helped elevate some KOs, while it hurt others. The UFC dominates this list, but there is one knockout featured from a promotion other than the sport's leader. The list also features knockouts in two title fights.
Without further ado, here are your top 10 knockouts of 2014. Here's hoping 2015 keeps delivering moments that make us leap out of our chairs.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2324288-mma-in-2014-the-top-10-knockouts
The Question: Will Conor McGregor Cement His Rise to the Top at Fight Night 59?
On Sunday, the Ultimate Fighting Championship presents a novelty Sunday card, following an extensive day of playoff football, in an effort designed to do one thing and one thing only: to make Conor McGregor a household name.
McGregor is already one of the more notable fighters on the UFC roster, which is remarkable considering he has just four fights in the promotion. He has vaulted far past tenured fighters in terms of both salary and screen time. The advertising campaign for UFC Fight Night 59 in Boston centered solely around McGregor, with opponent Dennis Siver relegated to a tiny speck in the background, barely even mentioned.
But it was all for a purpose. With a win, McGregor will move on to face Jose Aldo for the featherweight championship. It will be the UFC's first big-time fight below 145 pounds, and so the McGregor-centric programming will have been worth it.
But in our second edition of The Question, fellow pundit Jonathan Snowden and I try to figure out if this Sunday is indeed the moment when McGregor takes over the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Jeremy Botter: Jonathan, this seems like an important week for the UFC.
It has been awhile since they created any real new stars. You and I have grown plenty old since the days of Liddell and Hughes and Griffin. And yeah, there is Ronda Rousey and maybe Jon Jones, but who else?
The UFC is betting big on McGregor, the brash Irishman who talks a big game and then backs it up in the cage. So far, anyway. Nearly every bit of advertising for Sunday's UFC Fight Night is centered on McGregor; opponent Dennis Siver is an afterthought.
The UFC has taken their time on McGregor. They've pushed him hard, but perhaps not as hard as they wanted to. And so the question I pose to you is this: Is this Sunday the day when McGregor cements himself as one of the biggest stars in the sport?
Jonathan Snowden: I fully expect McGregor to knock Siver silly, say something charming and bask in the cheers of the Boston faithful. McGregor is the real thing. He's going to leave his mark on this sport. Consider me among the converted.
Here's the problem—he'll be playing, once again, only to the faithful. I was a big advocate of getting Conor on free television. If enough people get a taste, I think they'll be back begging the UFC to take their money.
But this isn't on Fox. It's on Fox Sports 1. And it's on the same night as the NFL playoffs. That doesn't help spread the word of Mr. McGregor's arrival. It's treading water. And that's a shame.
Jeremy: I agree with you on the television front. It probably would've been a better thing to have McGregor headlining next week's show in Sweden instead, because that one airs on Fox. But then you'd relegate Alexander Gustafasson to the co-main event, and that's not a great solution, either.
The reality here is that the UFC's television platform—whether it's Fox or Fox Sports 1—just isn't what it used to be. There used to be a time when putting burgeoning new stars on UFC television cards could launch important, sustainable careers. But those days are over. Fox Sports 1 is, depending on how you choose to view things, either a total failure or a long-term project that hasn't quite achieved vertical success.
But as far as the UFC goes in 2015—and for the audience they are capable of reaching at this point—I think you'll see this fight card as a massive success. Not a massive success compared to the Lesnar-era UFC, but a massive success for RIGHT NOW. I have two friends who I wouldn't even call casual fans of mixed martial arts; I use them as my litmus test. If they've heard of a fighter or they're excited for a fight card, there's a pretty good chance it'll be a success.
But we are in uncharted waters here, with a Sunday night card airing immediately after one gazillion hours of football. If I'm a football fan (which I'm not), I don't think I'd want to stay in front of the television for another few hours to watch fights after the AFC and NFC Championship Games conclude. But that's me.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2329840-the-question-will-conor-mcgregor-cement-his-rise-to-the-top-at-fight-night-59
McGregor is already one of the more notable fighters on the UFC roster, which is remarkable considering he has just four fights in the promotion. He has vaulted far past tenured fighters in terms of both salary and screen time. The advertising campaign for UFC Fight Night 59 in Boston centered solely around McGregor, with opponent Dennis Siver relegated to a tiny speck in the background, barely even mentioned.
But it was all for a purpose. With a win, McGregor will move on to face Jose Aldo for the featherweight championship. It will be the UFC's first big-time fight below 145 pounds, and so the McGregor-centric programming will have been worth it.
But in our second edition of The Question, fellow pundit Jonathan Snowden and I try to figure out if this Sunday is indeed the moment when McGregor takes over the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Jeremy Botter: Jonathan, this seems like an important week for the UFC.
It has been awhile since they created any real new stars. You and I have grown plenty old since the days of Liddell and Hughes and Griffin. And yeah, there is Ronda Rousey and maybe Jon Jones, but who else?
The UFC is betting big on McGregor, the brash Irishman who talks a big game and then backs it up in the cage. So far, anyway. Nearly every bit of advertising for Sunday's UFC Fight Night is centered on McGregor; opponent Dennis Siver is an afterthought.
The UFC has taken their time on McGregor. They've pushed him hard, but perhaps not as hard as they wanted to. And so the question I pose to you is this: Is this Sunday the day when McGregor cements himself as one of the biggest stars in the sport?
Jonathan Snowden: I fully expect McGregor to knock Siver silly, say something charming and bask in the cheers of the Boston faithful. McGregor is the real thing. He's going to leave his mark on this sport. Consider me among the converted.
Here's the problem—he'll be playing, once again, only to the faithful. I was a big advocate of getting Conor on free television. If enough people get a taste, I think they'll be back begging the UFC to take their money.
But this isn't on Fox. It's on Fox Sports 1. And it's on the same night as the NFL playoffs. That doesn't help spread the word of Mr. McGregor's arrival. It's treading water. And that's a shame.
Jeremy: I agree with you on the television front. It probably would've been a better thing to have McGregor headlining next week's show in Sweden instead, because that one airs on Fox. But then you'd relegate Alexander Gustafasson to the co-main event, and that's not a great solution, either.
The reality here is that the UFC's television platform—whether it's Fox or Fox Sports 1—just isn't what it used to be. There used to be a time when putting burgeoning new stars on UFC television cards could launch important, sustainable careers. But those days are over. Fox Sports 1 is, depending on how you choose to view things, either a total failure or a long-term project that hasn't quite achieved vertical success.
But as far as the UFC goes in 2015—and for the audience they are capable of reaching at this point—I think you'll see this fight card as a massive success. Not a massive success compared to the Lesnar-era UFC, but a massive success for RIGHT NOW. I have two friends who I wouldn't even call casual fans of mixed martial arts; I use them as my litmus test. If they've heard of a fighter or they're excited for a fight card, there's a pretty good chance it'll be a success.
But we are in uncharted waters here, with a Sunday night card airing immediately after one gazillion hours of football. If I'm a football fan (which I'm not), I don't think I'd want to stay in front of the television for another few hours to watch fights after the AFC and NFC Championship Games conclude. But that's me.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2329840-the-question-will-conor-mcgregor-cement-his-rise-to-the-top-at-fight-night-59
UFC and Reebok Deal: Mysteries Still Remain on Fighter Pay and More
LAS VEGAS — Yesterday, I published an exclusive, detailed look at a document governing the UFC's new Athlete Outfitting Policy.
The partnership with Reebok—which goes into effect in July—is extensive, and is in every respect a game-changer for the UFC and the fighters who make their living by fighting for the promotion. No longer will fighters be allowed to secure their own sponsorships and display outside logos on their shorts, hats and banners. Instead, it will be all Reebok, all the time, and sponsor banners are a thing of the past.
From a monetary perspective, we still do not know what this will mean for the fighters. The document states that fighters will be paid on a tiered system based on their ranking at the time of weigh-ins, and that they will be paid within 10 business days of the fight's conclusion. But it does not offer any specifics on what kind of pay each tier will provide. That part remains a mystery for now.
Because it is a mystery, we don't know how this deal will ultimately affect the fighters. Will they make a dollar amount equivalent to the amount they were paid by their old sponsors? For some, the idea of not having to chase down payments from delinquent sponsors—long a prevalent thing in mixed martial arts—will be a godsend. For others who take a financial hit, things will not be so rosy.
We also know that the UFC's language regarding how much of the money from Reebok will be paid to the fighters is changing. When the deal was announced, Dana White told reporters that "every penny" of the deal will go to the fighters.
But according to the Athlete Outfitting Policy document, that does not seem to be the case.
"UFC will be distributing the vast majority of the revenue received from this partnership to the athletes," the document states. "A percentage of all sales will be donated to Fight for Peace, a nonprofit organization."
We've gone from "every penny" to "the vast majority" in a short period of time. And while I don't believe this change is an indication the UFC plans on keeping all of the Reebok spoils for itself, it is still a change worth noting, and one that will affect the fighters shepherded into the deal.
Another interesting takeaway from the document: The UFC is not messing around when it comes to Reebok product. Fighters must wear Reebok products not only during all fight week activities but also during any UFC-related activities or TV shows. For fight week, this means press conferences (unless they elect to wear a suit or go business casual), open workouts, weigh-ins and the fight itself.
But it also specifies that Reebok must be worn during UFC Tonight, UFC Embedded, UFC Countdown shows and various other programming. And all participants—including "guests and guest fighters" are required to wear Reebok gear if provided.
The rules extend to a fighter's corner, and here's where things get interesting. If a fighter's corner refuses to wear the provided Reebok gear, he won't be punished. Rather, it will be the fighter he's cornering who suffers the consequences. Those consequences include monetary fines, but the document also mentions that fighters could be removed from the fight.
Those penalties also apply to fighters who refuse to wear Reebok for official events. And if a fighter loses any of the product given to him, he is responsible for the replacement costs.
Clearly, the UFC has elected to take a hard line in enforcing this new policy. They want a unified look for their product, and who can blame them? After years of angel's wings, skulls, crossbones and crosses, it is refreshing to imagine an MMA world with a fairly clean canvas. It makes the UFC look more professional.But in threatening monetary punishment or removal from a fight for infractions for both fighters and corners, the UFC is taking an already lit powder keg and throwing it in the flames. We have yet to hear many UFC-contracted fighters speak out about their dissatisfaction with the Reebok deal, mostly because they don't know what it means to their pocketbooks.
But you can bet we'll hear rumblings the first time someone is punished for not wearing the proper gear, or forced to pay for lost gear.
There are still many unknowns with this deal. It is a landmark deal that drastically changes the UFC from top to bottom. But until we find out what the deal means for fighter's pocketbooks, it is impossible to judge whether it is good or bad as a whole.
But once those details begin trickling out—and I expect we'll start hearing about them soon—we'll either begin hearing tales of fighters happy with the Reebok windfall, or we'll hear about those who are dissatisfied with their losses in pay.
And once that happens, we'll be able to figure out if this was a good deal for the fighters who make their living fighting on UFC cards, or whether it's just a deal that's good for the UFC.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2330553-ufc-reebok-deal-mysteries-still-remain-on-fighter-pay-more
The partnership with Reebok—which goes into effect in July—is extensive, and is in every respect a game-changer for the UFC and the fighters who make their living by fighting for the promotion. No longer will fighters be allowed to secure their own sponsorships and display outside logos on their shorts, hats and banners. Instead, it will be all Reebok, all the time, and sponsor banners are a thing of the past.
From a monetary perspective, we still do not know what this will mean for the fighters. The document states that fighters will be paid on a tiered system based on their ranking at the time of weigh-ins, and that they will be paid within 10 business days of the fight's conclusion. But it does not offer any specifics on what kind of pay each tier will provide. That part remains a mystery for now.
Because it is a mystery, we don't know how this deal will ultimately affect the fighters. Will they make a dollar amount equivalent to the amount they were paid by their old sponsors? For some, the idea of not having to chase down payments from delinquent sponsors—long a prevalent thing in mixed martial arts—will be a godsend. For others who take a financial hit, things will not be so rosy.
We also know that the UFC's language regarding how much of the money from Reebok will be paid to the fighters is changing. When the deal was announced, Dana White told reporters that "every penny" of the deal will go to the fighters.
But according to the Athlete Outfitting Policy document, that does not seem to be the case.
"UFC will be distributing the vast majority of the revenue received from this partnership to the athletes," the document states. "A percentage of all sales will be donated to Fight for Peace, a nonprofit organization."
We've gone from "every penny" to "the vast majority" in a short period of time. And while I don't believe this change is an indication the UFC plans on keeping all of the Reebok spoils for itself, it is still a change worth noting, and one that will affect the fighters shepherded into the deal.
Another interesting takeaway from the document: The UFC is not messing around when it comes to Reebok product. Fighters must wear Reebok products not only during all fight week activities but also during any UFC-related activities or TV shows. For fight week, this means press conferences (unless they elect to wear a suit or go business casual), open workouts, weigh-ins and the fight itself.
But it also specifies that Reebok must be worn during UFC Tonight, UFC Embedded, UFC Countdown shows and various other programming. And all participants—including "guests and guest fighters" are required to wear Reebok gear if provided.
The rules extend to a fighter's corner, and here's where things get interesting. If a fighter's corner refuses to wear the provided Reebok gear, he won't be punished. Rather, it will be the fighter he's cornering who suffers the consequences. Those consequences include monetary fines, but the document also mentions that fighters could be removed from the fight.
Those penalties also apply to fighters who refuse to wear Reebok for official events. And if a fighter loses any of the product given to him, he is responsible for the replacement costs.
Clearly, the UFC has elected to take a hard line in enforcing this new policy. They want a unified look for their product, and who can blame them? After years of angel's wings, skulls, crossbones and crosses, it is refreshing to imagine an MMA world with a fairly clean canvas. It makes the UFC look more professional.But in threatening monetary punishment or removal from a fight for infractions for both fighters and corners, the UFC is taking an already lit powder keg and throwing it in the flames. We have yet to hear many UFC-contracted fighters speak out about their dissatisfaction with the Reebok deal, mostly because they don't know what it means to their pocketbooks.
But you can bet we'll hear rumblings the first time someone is punished for not wearing the proper gear, or forced to pay for lost gear.
There are still many unknowns with this deal. It is a landmark deal that drastically changes the UFC from top to bottom. But until we find out what the deal means for fighter's pocketbooks, it is impossible to judge whether it is good or bad as a whole.
But once those details begin trickling out—and I expect we'll start hearing about them soon—we'll either begin hearing tales of fighters happy with the Reebok windfall, or we'll hear about those who are dissatisfied with their losses in pay.
And once that happens, we'll be able to figure out if this was a good deal for the fighters who make their living fighting on UFC cards, or whether it's just a deal that's good for the UFC.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2330553-ufc-reebok-deal-mysteries-still-remain-on-fighter-pay-more
Benson Henderson vs. Donald Cerrone 3: Head-to-Toe Breakdown
Donald Cerrone, ranked No. 3 in the lightweight division, returns to the UFC's Octagon on Sunday after just 15 days away from the structure.
Cerrone defeated young gun Myles Jury at UFC 182 and then got the call to replace Eddie Alvarez for a fight with No. 5-ranked contender Benson Henderson. It will be the third meeting for the two former WEC standouts.
Their first meeting was an epic encounter for the interim WEC lightweight title. The back-and-forth battle put both lightweights on the map. Henderson got the edge on the scorecards after 25 minutes of fantastic MMA action. Their second fight was a bit shorter as Henderson locked up a tight guillotine and got the tap from Cerrone.
Nearly five years later, here we are.UFC Fight Night 59 will see the two Top Five lightweights go at it again, but this time it will only be a three-round co-main event bout. Will that make a difference? Let's break it all down for this incredible matchup that fell into our laps.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2329435-benson-henderson-vs-donald-cerrone-iii-head-to-toe-breakdown
Cerrone defeated young gun Myles Jury at UFC 182 and then got the call to replace Eddie Alvarez for a fight with No. 5-ranked contender Benson Henderson. It will be the third meeting for the two former WEC standouts.
Their first meeting was an epic encounter for the interim WEC lightweight title. The back-and-forth battle put both lightweights on the map. Henderson got the edge on the scorecards after 25 minutes of fantastic MMA action. Their second fight was a bit shorter as Henderson locked up a tight guillotine and got the tap from Cerrone.
Nearly five years later, here we are.UFC Fight Night 59 will see the two Top Five lightweights go at it again, but this time it will only be a three-round co-main event bout. Will that make a difference? Let's break it all down for this incredible matchup that fell into our laps.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2329435-benson-henderson-vs-donald-cerrone-iii-head-to-toe-breakdown
Jon Jones Spends Only One Night in Rehab, Will Attend Brothers' Football Game
Jon Jones didn't undergo extensive rehabilitation after testing positive for cocaine in December, according to his mother, Camille Jones.
The reigning UFC light heavyweight champ has been making headlines for all the wrong reasons lately. After Jones defeated Daniel Cormier at UFC 182, it was revealed that Jones had tested positive for benzoylecgonine, the main metabolite for cocaine, in a random drug test before the fight.
Due to the positive test being out of competition, the Nevada State Athletic Commission couldn't hand out a punishment. Jones was permitted to take the fight after passing a subsequent test, per Yahoo Sports' Kevin Iole.
The NSAC also wasn't required to release information regarding the failed drug test to the public, given the time gap and the out-of-competition testing.
Jones released a statement to Yahoo Sports through his attorney in which the 27-year-old champ announced he had entered a drug treatment facility, where he would be taking the treatment program "very seriously."
During an interview with CBS affiliate WBNG-TV in Binghamton, New York, Jones' mother said her son's stay in rehab lasted one night but that he is "continuing to get more educated on the subject."
"I'm glad that this happened to Jon," said Camille. "This stopped him in his tracks. This let him know that he may need to change some friends, because everyone is not for you, for the best."
Jones is expected to attend Sunday's AFC Championship Game to watch his brothers, New England Patriots defensive end Chandler Jones and Indianapolis Colts defensive end Arthur Jones, play against each other in a matchup that will decide which team goes to the Super Bowl.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2328193-jon-jones-only-spends-one-night-in-rehab-will-attend-brothers-football-game
The reigning UFC light heavyweight champ has been making headlines for all the wrong reasons lately. After Jones defeated Daniel Cormier at UFC 182, it was revealed that Jones had tested positive for benzoylecgonine, the main metabolite for cocaine, in a random drug test before the fight.
Due to the positive test being out of competition, the Nevada State Athletic Commission couldn't hand out a punishment. Jones was permitted to take the fight after passing a subsequent test, per Yahoo Sports' Kevin Iole.
The NSAC also wasn't required to release information regarding the failed drug test to the public, given the time gap and the out-of-competition testing.
Jones released a statement to Yahoo Sports through his attorney in which the 27-year-old champ announced he had entered a drug treatment facility, where he would be taking the treatment program "very seriously."
During an interview with CBS affiliate WBNG-TV in Binghamton, New York, Jones' mother said her son's stay in rehab lasted one night but that he is "continuing to get more educated on the subject."
"I'm glad that this happened to Jon," said Camille. "This stopped him in his tracks. This let him know that he may need to change some friends, because everyone is not for you, for the best."
Jones is expected to attend Sunday's AFC Championship Game to watch his brothers, New England Patriots defensive end Chandler Jones and Indianapolis Colts defensive end Arthur Jones, play against each other in a matchup that will decide which team goes to the Super Bowl.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2328193-jon-jones-only-spends-one-night-in-rehab-will-attend-brothers-football-game
Dillashaw vs. Barao 2 and the Return of "Rampage" Jackson Rumored for UFC 186
It looks like the UFC bantamweight title will be on the line in addition to a former champion making his return when the Octagon rolls through Montreal for UFC 186.
While there has yet to be an official announcement on either bout, UFC Tonight's Ariel Helwani reported on Wednesday the event will be headlined with the long-awaited rematch between champion T.J. Dillashaw and former titleholder Renan Barao.
The Team Alpha Male staple upset the Brazilian striker when they initially squared off at UFC 173 back in May, and the Nova Uniao representative was given an immediate rematch that would take place at UFC 177 four months later in Sacramento, California.Yet "The Baron" would be pulled from the card for medical reasons, and his chance to reclaim the 135-pound title would get thrown on the scrap pile. The newly minted champion would go on to defeat promotional newcomer Joe Soto in the main event, and the former pound-for-pound ranked Brazilian would derail surging prospect Mitch Gagnon in his next outing at Fight Night 58 back in December.
While the next title opportunity was set to go to former champion Dominick Cruz, "The Dominator" suffered another knee injury and was once again pushed to the sidelines, where he's been for the better part of the past three years. Cruz's injury opened the door for Barao to get a chance for redemption, and it appears he will get precisely that at UFC 186 in Montreal.
In addition to the main event title tilt, Helwani also broke another rumored bout for the UFC's return to Quebec with Quinton "Rampage" Jackson versus Fabio Maldonado.It was recently announced the former light heavyweight champion had officially re-signed with the UFC, and if Helwani's report comes to fruition, the bout with the scrappy Brazilian will be his first under the organization's banner since he was defeated by Glover Teixeira at UFC on Fox 6 in January 2013. Jackson would go on to sign with Bellator, where the former Pride fighter found victory in all three of his showings for the Los Angeles-based organization.
The 36-year-old knockout artist made headlines around the sport by returning to the UFC, but his existing contract issues with Bellator could very well create some obstacles on his way to the Octagon. According to Marc Raimondi of MMA Fighting, Bellator CEO Scott Coker has publicly stated that Jackson is still under contract with the promotion and they have no plans of letting him out of that agreement to compete in the UFC.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2330506-dillashaw-vs-barao-2-and-the-return-of-rampage-jackson-rumored-for-ufc-186
While there has yet to be an official announcement on either bout, UFC Tonight's Ariel Helwani reported on Wednesday the event will be headlined with the long-awaited rematch between champion T.J. Dillashaw and former titleholder Renan Barao.
The Team Alpha Male staple upset the Brazilian striker when they initially squared off at UFC 173 back in May, and the Nova Uniao representative was given an immediate rematch that would take place at UFC 177 four months later in Sacramento, California.Yet "The Baron" would be pulled from the card for medical reasons, and his chance to reclaim the 135-pound title would get thrown on the scrap pile. The newly minted champion would go on to defeat promotional newcomer Joe Soto in the main event, and the former pound-for-pound ranked Brazilian would derail surging prospect Mitch Gagnon in his next outing at Fight Night 58 back in December.
While the next title opportunity was set to go to former champion Dominick Cruz, "The Dominator" suffered another knee injury and was once again pushed to the sidelines, where he's been for the better part of the past three years. Cruz's injury opened the door for Barao to get a chance for redemption, and it appears he will get precisely that at UFC 186 in Montreal.
In addition to the main event title tilt, Helwani also broke another rumored bout for the UFC's return to Quebec with Quinton "Rampage" Jackson versus Fabio Maldonado.It was recently announced the former light heavyweight champion had officially re-signed with the UFC, and if Helwani's report comes to fruition, the bout with the scrappy Brazilian will be his first under the organization's banner since he was defeated by Glover Teixeira at UFC on Fox 6 in January 2013. Jackson would go on to sign with Bellator, where the former Pride fighter found victory in all three of his showings for the Los Angeles-based organization.
The 36-year-old knockout artist made headlines around the sport by returning to the UFC, but his existing contract issues with Bellator could very well create some obstacles on his way to the Octagon. According to Marc Raimondi of MMA Fighting, Bellator CEO Scott Coker has publicly stated that Jackson is still under contract with the promotion and they have no plans of letting him out of that agreement to compete in the UFC.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2330506-dillashaw-vs-barao-2-and-the-return-of-rampage-jackson-rumored-for-ufc-186
UFC and Reebok: A Detailed Look at the UFC's New Athlete Outfitting Policy
LAS VEGAS — On Wednesday, the Ultimate Fighting Championship outlined its new Athlete Outfitting Policy in a document sent to managers of all fighters currently on the roster.
The document, obtained by Bleacher Report, details nearly every aspect of the new policy with the exception of what each fighter can expect to be paid from the new UFC partnership with Reebok. But while the monetary details remain a mystery, the document answers many questions posed after the announcement of the deal—first reported by Bleacher Report last February—late last year.
The document opens with a letter from UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta and UFC President Dana White explaining some of the reasoning behind the partnership.
"The iconic look that will be created by the outfitting policy will elevate the message we communicate as the leaders in the sport," White and Fertitta said in the letter. "The apparel is built for MMA training and MMA fighting, bringing the newest technology available to our sport."
The newly created UFC Equipment Department is overseen by Ember Morr, vice president of Consumer Products. Beginning with this weekend's Boston card, the promotion will hold mandatory "informational sessions" with each fighter participating on the card that will detail the program and answer any questions they may have. They'll also begin working with each fighter to develop styles for their individual merchandise. These sessions will be overseen by Tracey Bleczinski, senior vice president of the Consumer Products Department.
The new UFC Equipment Department will have a team stationed at each fight card. The positions are as follows: equipment director, three equipment managers and an equipment coordinator. The responsibilities of these new positions are not specified in the document.
Fighters ranked in the UFC's official rankings will be the first to pick the color of their products. For a bout between two ranked fighters, the higher ranked fighter receives first selection; the lower-ranked fighter is required to pick a contrasting color. Unranked fighters will work with matchmakers to select a color. Upon arriving in the host city and checking in with Zuffa officials, each fighter will be issued Reebok products to wear for open workouts, media day, weigh-ins and press conferences. This product handout will include: a gym bag, a hoodie, a T-shirt, workout shorts, weigh-in shorts, weigh-in walkout sweatpants, a weigh-in T-shirt, weigh-in walkout hoodie, a weigh-in hat, underwear, socks and shoes. Female fighters will also receive sports bras.
Each fighter's corner people are also required to wear Reebok material, and they will receive the gear upon check-in. If a fighter's corner refuses to wear the product, their fighter will be subject to "penalties, fines and may be removed from the fight."
For open workouts, each fighter is required to select clothing from the following list: hoodie, T-shirt, workout shorts, underwear, socks and shoes. Female fighters will wear a sports bra.
For press conferences, fighters are allowed to wear Reebok/UFC apparel, or they may opt to wear business or business casual attire with no visible logos or trademarks.
For weigh-ins, fighters must select from the walkout product given to them upon check-in.Upon arrival at the fight venue, each fighter will receive: fight shorts, walkout shirt, walkout hoodie, walkout hat and walkout sweatpants. Female fighters will receive their fight sports bra and fight tank top. Fight shorts will either be vale-tudo or board-short style, and no bikini-style shorts are allowed.
The document states that "fighters are paid for complying with the policy. Fighters are paid by the UFC within 10 business days of their fight. Fighters are paid based on the UFC fighter pay scale and their official ranking at the time of weigh-in."
Fighters are responsible for replacement costs for lost merchandise. If a fighter does not wear the merchandise, they will be subject to penalties ranging from monetary fines all the way to being removed from the fight. Each penalty will be based on the individual infraction.
The UFC logo may not be covered in any way, and outside logos may not be added to any product. But the UFC does reserve the right to add a sponsor logo to every single product worn by each fighter during the fight week, which leaves space for individual fight card sponsorship from outside sponsors.
If a fighter elects to wear headphones, they must be Octagon by Monster headphones.After each fight, the fighter is required to select one piece of their official walkout gear—the product they physically wore to the Octagon (not including underwear)—and return it to the UFC equipment manager. This could include the hoodie, hat, shorts or anything else worn during the walkout. This portion of the policy leads one to believe the UFC will ramp up its efforts to begin selling "fight-worn" gear from each fighter.
In addition to all fight week-related activities, fighters must also wear Reebok apparel for any UFC-produced show. This includes (but is not limited to): Road to the Octagon, UFC Embedded, UFC Tonight, UFC Countdown, Ultimate Insider and The Ultimate Fighter.
In an FAQ at the end of the document, the promotion gives a quick answer regarding how the money from the Reebok partnership will be divvied up.
"The UFC is distributing the vast majority of the revenue received from this partnership to the athletes," the document says. A percentage of all sales of Reebok gear will be donated to Fight for Peace, a nonprofit organization "which combines boxing & martial arts with education and personal development in communities affected by crime and violence."
The Athlete Outfitting Policy also means the end of in-cage sponsor banners.The policy goes into effect on July 6, 2015, during the UFC's next International Fight Week in Las Vegas. Several UFC stars are already signed to Reebok deals , including Jon Jones , Ronda Rousey , Johny Hendricks , Anthony Pettis and Conor McGregor .
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2330479-ufc-and-reebok-a-detailed-look-at-the-ufcs-new-athlete-outfitting-policy
The document, obtained by Bleacher Report, details nearly every aspect of the new policy with the exception of what each fighter can expect to be paid from the new UFC partnership with Reebok. But while the monetary details remain a mystery, the document answers many questions posed after the announcement of the deal—first reported by Bleacher Report last February—late last year.
The document opens with a letter from UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta and UFC President Dana White explaining some of the reasoning behind the partnership.
"The iconic look that will be created by the outfitting policy will elevate the message we communicate as the leaders in the sport," White and Fertitta said in the letter. "The apparel is built for MMA training and MMA fighting, bringing the newest technology available to our sport."
The newly created UFC Equipment Department is overseen by Ember Morr, vice president of Consumer Products. Beginning with this weekend's Boston card, the promotion will hold mandatory "informational sessions" with each fighter participating on the card that will detail the program and answer any questions they may have. They'll also begin working with each fighter to develop styles for their individual merchandise. These sessions will be overseen by Tracey Bleczinski, senior vice president of the Consumer Products Department.
The new UFC Equipment Department will have a team stationed at each fight card. The positions are as follows: equipment director, three equipment managers and an equipment coordinator. The responsibilities of these new positions are not specified in the document.
Fighters ranked in the UFC's official rankings will be the first to pick the color of their products. For a bout between two ranked fighters, the higher ranked fighter receives first selection; the lower-ranked fighter is required to pick a contrasting color. Unranked fighters will work with matchmakers to select a color. Upon arriving in the host city and checking in with Zuffa officials, each fighter will be issued Reebok products to wear for open workouts, media day, weigh-ins and press conferences. This product handout will include: a gym bag, a hoodie, a T-shirt, workout shorts, weigh-in shorts, weigh-in walkout sweatpants, a weigh-in T-shirt, weigh-in walkout hoodie, a weigh-in hat, underwear, socks and shoes. Female fighters will also receive sports bras.
Each fighter's corner people are also required to wear Reebok material, and they will receive the gear upon check-in. If a fighter's corner refuses to wear the product, their fighter will be subject to "penalties, fines and may be removed from the fight."
For open workouts, each fighter is required to select clothing from the following list: hoodie, T-shirt, workout shorts, underwear, socks and shoes. Female fighters will wear a sports bra.
For press conferences, fighters are allowed to wear Reebok/UFC apparel, or they may opt to wear business or business casual attire with no visible logos or trademarks.
For weigh-ins, fighters must select from the walkout product given to them upon check-in.Upon arrival at the fight venue, each fighter will receive: fight shorts, walkout shirt, walkout hoodie, walkout hat and walkout sweatpants. Female fighters will receive their fight sports bra and fight tank top. Fight shorts will either be vale-tudo or board-short style, and no bikini-style shorts are allowed.
The document states that "fighters are paid for complying with the policy. Fighters are paid by the UFC within 10 business days of their fight. Fighters are paid based on the UFC fighter pay scale and their official ranking at the time of weigh-in."
Fighters are responsible for replacement costs for lost merchandise. If a fighter does not wear the merchandise, they will be subject to penalties ranging from monetary fines all the way to being removed from the fight. Each penalty will be based on the individual infraction.
The UFC logo may not be covered in any way, and outside logos may not be added to any product. But the UFC does reserve the right to add a sponsor logo to every single product worn by each fighter during the fight week, which leaves space for individual fight card sponsorship from outside sponsors.
If a fighter elects to wear headphones, they must be Octagon by Monster headphones.After each fight, the fighter is required to select one piece of their official walkout gear—the product they physically wore to the Octagon (not including underwear)—and return it to the UFC equipment manager. This could include the hoodie, hat, shorts or anything else worn during the walkout. This portion of the policy leads one to believe the UFC will ramp up its efforts to begin selling "fight-worn" gear from each fighter.
In addition to all fight week-related activities, fighters must also wear Reebok apparel for any UFC-produced show. This includes (but is not limited to): Road to the Octagon, UFC Embedded, UFC Tonight, UFC Countdown, Ultimate Insider and The Ultimate Fighter.
In an FAQ at the end of the document, the promotion gives a quick answer regarding how the money from the Reebok partnership will be divvied up.
"The UFC is distributing the vast majority of the revenue received from this partnership to the athletes," the document says. A percentage of all sales of Reebok gear will be donated to Fight for Peace, a nonprofit organization "which combines boxing & martial arts with education and personal development in communities affected by crime and violence."
The Athlete Outfitting Policy also means the end of in-cage sponsor banners.The policy goes into effect on July 6, 2015, during the UFC's next International Fight Week in Las Vegas. Several UFC stars are already signed to Reebok deals , including Jon Jones , Ronda Rousey , Johny Hendricks , Anthony Pettis and Conor McGregor .
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2330479-ufc-and-reebok-a-detailed-look-at-the-ufcs-new-athlete-outfitting-policy
The Question: Will Conor McGregor Cement His Rise to the Top at Fight Night 59?
On Sunday, the Ultimate Fighting Championship presents a novelty Sunday card, following an extensive day of playoff football, in an effort designed to do one thing and one thing only: to make Conor McGregor a household name.
McGregor is already one of the more notable fighters on the UFC roster, which is remarkable considering he has just four fights in the promotion. He has vaulted far past tenured fighters in terms of both salary and screen time. The advertising campaign for UFC Fight Night 59 in Boston centered solely around McGregor, with opponent Dennis Siver relegated to a tiny speck in the background, barely even mentioned.
But it was all for a purpose. With a win, McGregor will move on to face Jose Aldo for the featherweight championship. It will be the UFC's first big-time fight below 145 pounds, and so the McGregor-centric programming will have been worth it.
But in our second edition of The Question, fellow pundit Jonathan Snowden and I try to figure out if this Sunday is indeed the moment when McGregor takes over the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2329840-the-question-will-conor-mcgregor-cement-his-rise-to-the-top-at-fight-night-59
McGregor is already one of the more notable fighters on the UFC roster, which is remarkable considering he has just four fights in the promotion. He has vaulted far past tenured fighters in terms of both salary and screen time. The advertising campaign for UFC Fight Night 59 in Boston centered solely around McGregor, with opponent Dennis Siver relegated to a tiny speck in the background, barely even mentioned.
But it was all for a purpose. With a win, McGregor will move on to face Jose Aldo for the featherweight championship. It will be the UFC's first big-time fight below 145 pounds, and so the McGregor-centric programming will have been worth it.
But in our second edition of The Question, fellow pundit Jonathan Snowden and I try to figure out if this Sunday is indeed the moment when McGregor takes over the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2329840-the-question-will-conor-mcgregor-cement-his-rise-to-the-top-at-fight-night-59
Wednesday, 14 January 2015
Gilbert Melendez Eager to Get Back on Track, Open to Fight with Eddie Alvarez
Gilbert Melendez isn't a fighter who is willing to settle for anything less than his best, and he's determined to get his career back on track.
After a three-year run under the Strikeforce banner in which he won then defended the lightweight title on six consecutive occasions, El Nino finally crossed over into UFC waters in 2013.
With Melendez long being touted as one of the best 155-pound fighters in the world, his first foray into the Octagon was a clash of champions as he faced UFC lightweight title holder Benson Henderson at UFC on Fox 7 in San Jose. The fight was the big stage the 32-year-old Californian had been waiting for and was his opportunity to solidify himself as the best lightweight in the world.
Yet, despite a hard-fought five-round war with Smooth, Melendez came out on the short end of a split decision on the judges' scorecards. It was Melendez's first setback since 2008, and he came out determined to get back into the win column in his next outing against Diego Sanchez at UFC 166.
The Skrap Pack leader put on a memorable performance en route to picking up the unanimous decision victory as the perennial contender, and The Nightmare stood toe-to-toe trading shots for the entire 15 minutes of the fight.
When the final bell sounded, it was Melendez who won the battle and, in the process, earned a chance at redemption as he was lined up to face newly crowned champion, Anthony Pettis, in 2014. The bout not only represented his chance to make good on a missed opportunity the first time around, but with Pettis' surging profile, the championship tilt would also bring the increased visibility he'd been working years to achieve.The two fighters were selected to coach the 20th season of The Ultimate Fighter, and with several smooth showings behind the desk, Melendez's work as an analyst for Fox Sports 1 and ESPN tripled. Filming the reality program served to push his bout with Pettis out several months, and the champion recovering from a knee injury bumped the fight out even more.
The end result was a co-main event showdown at UFC 181 in December and a 14-month layoff that put Melendez out of the cage for the longest stint of his career.
It was an unusual turn but one that came with added benefits for the longtime former Strikeforce champion.
"It was a very productive year for my career and the 'El Nino' brand," Melendez told Bleacher Report. "I did a lot of work as an analyst, did the TV show, signed a good contract and landed a big fight. As for Gilbert Melendez as a fighter and a world champion, I know I'm in my prime and need to dedicate every day to being in the gym. I can't spread myself too thin, and I think I did that in 2014. I still trained very hard, but I need to be focused and in the gym every day.
"I have filmed two different television shows. I have a family and my gym that I own. Doing television work is great, and it's something I enjoy, but it takes away from the time I have to dedicate to other things. There are no excuses here, but there is a lesson I can take away from it all. If I want to stay relevant, get better and not lose focus for that split second; I need to be in the gym a lot more. I need to get back to my 18- and 19-year-old days where I just live in the gym." With that in mind, he's eager to get back to work, and settling the score with an old rival would be the ideal next step. Former Bellator champion Eddie Alvarez has been a name attached to Melendez for quite some time, but with both competing for separate promotions, the fight has never come to fruition. Yet, with both now fighting under the UFC banner, and The Underground King falling out of his bout with Henderson at Fight Night 59, a showdown between the two gritty lightweights is absolutely possible.
Melendez loves the idea of finally squaring off with Alvarez and believes it would a great fight that makes absolute sense in the divisional picture.
"Fighting Eddie Alvarez is on my mind right now," Melendez said. "It's funny because this fight has been on my radar for a long time. We knew it could possibly happen one day, and it looks like it is a strong possibility right now. I would love to get that fight.
"I'm in the situation where I've had two title fights, and I've come up short on both opportunities. It is a regrouping phase. It's hard to take because I definitely want the title. I want to go in there and impress. I want to win fights, and I want to show some new things in the process. It's the point of my career where I have to evolve and change up the game a little bit.
"There's a lot of tough guys in my division, and there is some adapting that needs to be done," he added. "I want to show everyone that I can adjust and that I'm an intelligent fighter. I'm going to keep being relevant for the remainder of my career. I've been in the top 10 rankings for the last seven or eight years. I don't plan on going anywhere. Guys come and go, but I'll still be here.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2326522-gilbert-melendez-eager-to-get-back-on-track-open-to-fight-with-eddie-alvarez
After a three-year run under the Strikeforce banner in which he won then defended the lightweight title on six consecutive occasions, El Nino finally crossed over into UFC waters in 2013.
With Melendez long being touted as one of the best 155-pound fighters in the world, his first foray into the Octagon was a clash of champions as he faced UFC lightweight title holder Benson Henderson at UFC on Fox 7 in San Jose. The fight was the big stage the 32-year-old Californian had been waiting for and was his opportunity to solidify himself as the best lightweight in the world.
Yet, despite a hard-fought five-round war with Smooth, Melendez came out on the short end of a split decision on the judges' scorecards. It was Melendez's first setback since 2008, and he came out determined to get back into the win column in his next outing against Diego Sanchez at UFC 166.
The Skrap Pack leader put on a memorable performance en route to picking up the unanimous decision victory as the perennial contender, and The Nightmare stood toe-to-toe trading shots for the entire 15 minutes of the fight.
When the final bell sounded, it was Melendez who won the battle and, in the process, earned a chance at redemption as he was lined up to face newly crowned champion, Anthony Pettis, in 2014. The bout not only represented his chance to make good on a missed opportunity the first time around, but with Pettis' surging profile, the championship tilt would also bring the increased visibility he'd been working years to achieve.The two fighters were selected to coach the 20th season of The Ultimate Fighter, and with several smooth showings behind the desk, Melendez's work as an analyst for Fox Sports 1 and ESPN tripled. Filming the reality program served to push his bout with Pettis out several months, and the champion recovering from a knee injury bumped the fight out even more.
The end result was a co-main event showdown at UFC 181 in December and a 14-month layoff that put Melendez out of the cage for the longest stint of his career.
It was an unusual turn but one that came with added benefits for the longtime former Strikeforce champion.
"It was a very productive year for my career and the 'El Nino' brand," Melendez told Bleacher Report. "I did a lot of work as an analyst, did the TV show, signed a good contract and landed a big fight. As for Gilbert Melendez as a fighter and a world champion, I know I'm in my prime and need to dedicate every day to being in the gym. I can't spread myself too thin, and I think I did that in 2014. I still trained very hard, but I need to be focused and in the gym every day.
"I have filmed two different television shows. I have a family and my gym that I own. Doing television work is great, and it's something I enjoy, but it takes away from the time I have to dedicate to other things. There are no excuses here, but there is a lesson I can take away from it all. If I want to stay relevant, get better and not lose focus for that split second; I need to be in the gym a lot more. I need to get back to my 18- and 19-year-old days where I just live in the gym." With that in mind, he's eager to get back to work, and settling the score with an old rival would be the ideal next step. Former Bellator champion Eddie Alvarez has been a name attached to Melendez for quite some time, but with both competing for separate promotions, the fight has never come to fruition. Yet, with both now fighting under the UFC banner, and The Underground King falling out of his bout with Henderson at Fight Night 59, a showdown between the two gritty lightweights is absolutely possible.
Melendez loves the idea of finally squaring off with Alvarez and believes it would a great fight that makes absolute sense in the divisional picture.
"Fighting Eddie Alvarez is on my mind right now," Melendez said. "It's funny because this fight has been on my radar for a long time. We knew it could possibly happen one day, and it looks like it is a strong possibility right now. I would love to get that fight.
"I'm in the situation where I've had two title fights, and I've come up short on both opportunities. It is a regrouping phase. It's hard to take because I definitely want the title. I want to go in there and impress. I want to win fights, and I want to show some new things in the process. It's the point of my career where I have to evolve and change up the game a little bit.
"There's a lot of tough guys in my division, and there is some adapting that needs to be done," he added. "I want to show everyone that I can adjust and that I'm an intelligent fighter. I'm going to keep being relevant for the remainder of my career. I've been in the top 10 rankings for the last seven or eight years. I don't plan on going anywhere. Guys come and go, but I'll still be here.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2326522-gilbert-melendez-eager-to-get-back-on-track-open-to-fight-with-eddie-alvarez
Conor McGregor vs. Dennis Siver Head-to-Toe Breakdown
In less than one week, the fastest-rising star in mixed martial arts today will attempt to earn a long-awaited UFC featherweight title shot.
But in order to cash in on a golden opportunity, Conor McGregor mustn't overlook divisional mainstay Dennis Siver when the two lock horns this Sunday at UFC Fight Night 59 in Boston.
With powerful kickboxing and formidable grappling skills, Siver is arguably McGregor's toughest task to date.
It will be up to the young Irish sensation to attack with diligence and forbid his German opposition from finding an early groove.
Here is a full head-to-toe breakdown for one of the best free fights of 2015.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2326338-conor-mcgregor-vs-dennis-siver-head-to-toe-breakdown
But in order to cash in on a golden opportunity, Conor McGregor mustn't overlook divisional mainstay Dennis Siver when the two lock horns this Sunday at UFC Fight Night 59 in Boston.
With powerful kickboxing and formidable grappling skills, Siver is arguably McGregor's toughest task to date.
It will be up to the young Irish sensation to attack with diligence and forbid his German opposition from finding an early groove.
Here is a full head-to-toe breakdown for one of the best free fights of 2015.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2326338-conor-mcgregor-vs-dennis-siver-head-to-toe-breakdown
Brandon Thatch vs. Stephen Thompson Set for UFC Fight Night 60 Main Event
In a bout sure to bring fireworks, muay thai wrecking machine Brandon "Ruckus" Thatch will now face off with karate and kickboxing prodigy Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson in the main event of UFC Fight Night 60.
That's according to a Tuesday evening report from Thomas Gerbasi of UFC.com. The move also was announced on Twitter by UFC PR honcho Dave Sholler:Originally, the event, set to take place February 14 in Broomfield, Colorado, was set to be headlined by another welterweight bout: Matt Brown vs. Tarec Saffiedine.
However, those plans went awry recently when Saffiedine suffered a groin injury and was forced to withdraw. Then, also on Tuesday, UFC officials announced that Brown would instead take on Johny Hendricks at UFC 185.Though it is not as high profile as the original main event, Thatch vs. Thompson holds plenty of its own intrigue. The 29-year-old Thatch (11-1) has cut a big swath in a short time with the UFC. In two fights since joining in August 2013, he has scored a first-round knockout, which earned him a post-fight bonus from the UFC, and a first-round submission victory when veteran Paulo Thiago tapped to strikes.
Thatch's momentum was derailed, however, when he injured his toe and sat out for more than a year. This will be Thatch's first bout since sustaining the injury, and it comes in front of a hometown crowd for the Colorado native.
Meanwhile, Thompson (10-1) is 6-1 under the UFC banner and currently riding a four-fight win streak. The 31-year-old South Carolina native, who won a slew of national and international honors as a kickboxer, has scored a TKO victory in two of his last three contests.
Therefore, it stands to reason that neither of these men will want to go to the ground and that a knockout will be in the offing in this main event.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2329016-brandon-thatch-vs-stephen-thompson-set-for-ufc-fight-night-60-main-event
That's according to a Tuesday evening report from Thomas Gerbasi of UFC.com. The move also was announced on Twitter by UFC PR honcho Dave Sholler:Originally, the event, set to take place February 14 in Broomfield, Colorado, was set to be headlined by another welterweight bout: Matt Brown vs. Tarec Saffiedine.
However, those plans went awry recently when Saffiedine suffered a groin injury and was forced to withdraw. Then, also on Tuesday, UFC officials announced that Brown would instead take on Johny Hendricks at UFC 185.Though it is not as high profile as the original main event, Thatch vs. Thompson holds plenty of its own intrigue. The 29-year-old Thatch (11-1) has cut a big swath in a short time with the UFC. In two fights since joining in August 2013, he has scored a first-round knockout, which earned him a post-fight bonus from the UFC, and a first-round submission victory when veteran Paulo Thiago tapped to strikes.
Thatch's momentum was derailed, however, when he injured his toe and sat out for more than a year. This will be Thatch's first bout since sustaining the injury, and it comes in front of a hometown crowd for the Colorado native.
Meanwhile, Thompson (10-1) is 6-1 under the UFC banner and currently riding a four-fight win streak. The 31-year-old South Carolina native, who won a slew of national and international honors as a kickboxer, has scored a TKO victory in two of his last three contests.
Therefore, it stands to reason that neither of these men will want to go to the ground and that a knockout will be in the offing in this main event.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2329016-brandon-thatch-vs-stephen-thompson-set-for-ufc-fight-night-60-main-event
Johny Hendricks Will Fight Matt Brown at UFC 185
It looks like Johny Hendricks won't complete that trilogy with Robbie Lawler after all—at least not right away. Instead, Hendricks will face fellow slugger Matt Brown this March at UFC 185.
That's according to UFC officials, who confirmed the bout Tuesday evening in a report to Damon Martin of Fox Sports. Fox serves as the broadcast home for many UFC events.
The bout was also announced on Twitter by UFC PR honcho Dave Sholler:The original plan was for Brown to face Tarec Saffiedine in February at UFC Fight Night 60, but Saffiedine fell injured and was forced to withdraw, leaving The Immortal without a dance partner.
Luckily, Hendricks was willing to step in.The bout between Hendricks, the former champion, and Brown, one of the division's hottest fighters, presumably precipitated the move from a cable TV main event to a pay-per-view broadcast.In early January, UFC president Dana White slated Hendricks and Lawler, the current welterweight champion, for a rubber match at a future date. Hendricks defeated Lawler for the vacant title last March at UFC 171, with Lawler returning the favor in December. But the match between Brown and Hendricks appears to put those plans on ice for the foreseeable future.
It remains to be seen who, if anyone, might face Lawler in Hendricks' stead. Rory MacDonald, widely thought to be the top contender alongside Hendricks, has been linked to an April bout with Hector Lombard. But, theoretically, there is no reason such a bout could not be altered to free MacDonald up for a title bout, should all parties involved wish it.
On paper, Brown (19-12) vs. Hendricks (16-3) should promise to deliver major pyrotechnics. The two men have 20 combined knockout victories between them.
UFC 185 is scheduled to take place March 14, and will be headlined by Anthony Pettis defending his lightweight title against Rafael dos Anjos.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2328887-johny-hendricks-will-fight-matt-brown-at-ufc-185
That's according to UFC officials, who confirmed the bout Tuesday evening in a report to Damon Martin of Fox Sports. Fox serves as the broadcast home for many UFC events.
The bout was also announced on Twitter by UFC PR honcho Dave Sholler:The original plan was for Brown to face Tarec Saffiedine in February at UFC Fight Night 60, but Saffiedine fell injured and was forced to withdraw, leaving The Immortal without a dance partner.
Luckily, Hendricks was willing to step in.The bout between Hendricks, the former champion, and Brown, one of the division's hottest fighters, presumably precipitated the move from a cable TV main event to a pay-per-view broadcast.In early January, UFC president Dana White slated Hendricks and Lawler, the current welterweight champion, for a rubber match at a future date. Hendricks defeated Lawler for the vacant title last March at UFC 171, with Lawler returning the favor in December. But the match between Brown and Hendricks appears to put those plans on ice for the foreseeable future.
It remains to be seen who, if anyone, might face Lawler in Hendricks' stead. Rory MacDonald, widely thought to be the top contender alongside Hendricks, has been linked to an April bout with Hector Lombard. But, theoretically, there is no reason such a bout could not be altered to free MacDonald up for a title bout, should all parties involved wish it.
On paper, Brown (19-12) vs. Hendricks (16-3) should promise to deliver major pyrotechnics. The two men have 20 combined knockout victories between them.
UFC 185 is scheduled to take place March 14, and will be headlined by Anthony Pettis defending his lightweight title against Rafael dos Anjos.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2328887-johny-hendricks-will-fight-matt-brown-at-ufc-185
Jon Jones Spends Only One Night in Rehab, Will Attend Brothers' Football Game
Jon Jones didn't undergo extensive rehabilitation after testing positive for cocaine in December, according to his mother, Camille Jones.
The reigning UFC light heavyweight champ has been making headlines for all the wrong reasons lately. After Jones defeated Daniel Cormier at UFC 182, it was revealed that Jones had tested positive for benzoylecgonine, the main metabolite for cocaine, in a random drug test before the fight.
Due to the positive test being out of competition, the Nevada State Athletic Commission couldn't hand out a punishment. Jones was permitted to take the fight after passing a subsequent test, per Yahoo Sports' Kevin Iole.
The NSAC also wasn't required to release information regarding the failed drug test to the public, given the time gap and the out-of-competition testing.
Jones released a statement to Yahoo Sports through his attorney in which the 27-year-old champ announced he had entered a drug treatment facility, where he would be taking the treatment program "very seriously."
During an interview with CBS affiliate WBNG-TV in Binghamton, New York, Jones' mother said her son's stay in rehab lasted one night but that he is "continuing to get more educated on the subject."
"I'm glad that this happened to Jon," said Camille. "This stopped him in his tracks. This let him know that he may need to change some friends, because everyone is not for you, for the best."
Jones is expected to attend Sunday's AFC Championship Game to watch his brothers, New England Patriots defensive end Chandler Jones and Indianapolis Colts defensive end Arthur Jones, play against each other in a matchup that will decide which team goes to the Super Bowl.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2328193-jon-jones-only-spends-one-night-in-rehab-will-attend-brothers-football-game
The reigning UFC light heavyweight champ has been making headlines for all the wrong reasons lately. After Jones defeated Daniel Cormier at UFC 182, it was revealed that Jones had tested positive for benzoylecgonine, the main metabolite for cocaine, in a random drug test before the fight.
Due to the positive test being out of competition, the Nevada State Athletic Commission couldn't hand out a punishment. Jones was permitted to take the fight after passing a subsequent test, per Yahoo Sports' Kevin Iole.
The NSAC also wasn't required to release information regarding the failed drug test to the public, given the time gap and the out-of-competition testing.
Jones released a statement to Yahoo Sports through his attorney in which the 27-year-old champ announced he had entered a drug treatment facility, where he would be taking the treatment program "very seriously."
During an interview with CBS affiliate WBNG-TV in Binghamton, New York, Jones' mother said her son's stay in rehab lasted one night but that he is "continuing to get more educated on the subject."
"I'm glad that this happened to Jon," said Camille. "This stopped him in his tracks. This let him know that he may need to change some friends, because everyone is not for you, for the best."
Jones is expected to attend Sunday's AFC Championship Game to watch his brothers, New England Patriots defensive end Chandler Jones and Indianapolis Colts defensive end Arthur Jones, play against each other in a matchup that will decide which team goes to the Super Bowl.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2328193-jon-jones-only-spends-one-night-in-rehab-will-attend-brothers-football-game
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)