Frank Mir vs. Mirko Cro Cop Filipovic UFC 119

Frank Mir vs. Mirko Cro Cop Filipovic UFC 119

Round 1


Hunt fends off a McCorkle takedown and then gets on top himself. From guard Hunt is nearly swept by and is forced to fight off a kimura. McCorkle has it deep and finishes the fight off of his back with the hold. The Indiana crowd loves the tap, which comes at 1:03 of the opening period.



T.J. Grant vs. Julio Paulino

Round 1

On the feet Paulino switches back and fourth from orthodox and southpaw. Grant grabs a Thai clinch and lands some knees to the head of Paulino. Grant drags him to the floor. The Canadian is riding the side of tbe based out Paulino. "The Dominican Demon" wiggles to a single leg attempt but Grant is wise and spins to take the back. With 90 seconds remaining Grant attempts an armbar but Paulino gets out and settles in to Grant's guard. A moment later Grant spins out from bottom and gets the back again. Paulino stays out of danger and gets to his feet. The round ends. 10-9 Grant.



Round 2

Paulino starts the round with a jab from an orthodox stance. Grant rushes in and secures a takedown. Paulino has a guillotine, but Grant isn't in danger as he works out if it in side mount. Grant spins to north-south position and then back to side. Grant decides to move and let Paulino back up. The fighters are back on the feet for a brief moment until Grant shoots and secures another takedown. Paulino cinches up half but Grant is back to side control a second later. The crowd is growing tired of Grant's grappling clinic. The Canadian looks for a kimura but is turned away by Paulino, who manages to get on top. Paulino stands and tags Grant with a left-right combination but he is forced to the mat again off of a Grant double leg. Grant takes mount and lands some strikes. With 10 seconds left Grant spins for an armbar and misses. 10-9 Grant.



Round 3

The final frame starts with a high standing knee from Grant, who slips to the mat. Paulino isn't interest in floor fighting and tells Grant to stand. Grant does and drags his foe to the mat again. The Canadian has the back but is too high and gets shrugged off. Paulino fails to get away, but he gets his guard back. Grant stacks and grazes Paulino with some strikes to the head. The allows the Nova Scotian to pass to side. Paulino tries to get free and has to fight off a kimura, which turns in to an inverted triangle attempt and ends in a scramble with Paulino in the guard of Grant. Time is running out for Paulino, who ends up on his back again after another scramble. The round ends. 10-9 Grant.



All three official judges see it the same: 30-27 for TJ Grant.



Waylon Lowe vs. Steve Lopez

Round 1

Lowe takes the center of the cage and fends off Lopez's pawing jab. Lopez throws a looping right hook that misses twice. The southpawed Lowe fires back with a jab that misses but the cross finds its mark. A leg kick finds the thigh of Lowe. After a successful double-leg attempt, Lowe finds himself in his opponent's guard. Not much action ensues and Lowe stands. Lopez follows him up and the two southpaws look to exchange. A straight right finds the chin of Lowe. The lackluster frame ends with another Lowe takedown. 10-9 Lowe.



Round 2

Lopez fires a jab to start the middle frame. Lowe strikes back with a jab of his own. Another punch lands for Lowe and Lopez eats a right hook. Lopez answers with a combination that Lowe takes in stride. Another jab finds the chin of Lopez. A left low kick crashes in to the lead leg of Lowe. Lopez sprawls out of a Lowe takedown, but ends up on his back anyway. Lowe moves to side controll off of a triangle attempt and lands some knees to the ribs. Lopez shrimps back to guard and bashes his elbow in to the top of his opponent's head. Lowe is unfazed and finishes the round on top. 10-9 Lowe.



Round 3

The fighters touch gloves to start the final period. Lopez jumps forward with a flurry and eats a Lowe uppercut that prompts the crowd to cheer. Lowe gets inside on his foe and gets a takedown. On the floor, Lowe works from half guard. Lopez has control of Lowe's body which cause the pace to slow. Lopez fishes for the arm and tries to frame up a kimura. Lowe is wise to the move and is in no harm. Lopez however gets his guard back. The crowd gasps as a cut on the top of Lopez's head is gushing. Lowe fires some shots to the head of Lopez. Referee Herb Dean steps in to check the wound. The doctor says it's fine and the action starts again. However the bout continues on the floor and not the feet, where it was stopped. The referee mishap results in little action as the round expires. 10-9 Lowe.



The judges are split as it goes 29-28 Lopez and 29-28 twice for Lowe, the winner by split decision.



Thiago Tavares vs. Pat Audinwood

Round 1

Rob Hinds starts the lightweight contest. Audinwood eats a Tavares right that lands flush to the face. The Brazilian gets inside with a clinch and gets the fight to the floor. Against the cage, Audinwood stands but is elevated and slammed to the mat. From the guard of Audinwood, Tavares stacks and lands a few good strikes. The New Yorker spins for an arm but can't secure anything as he eats some strikes. Audinwood settles for guard. With his back against the fence Audinwood wall walks back to his feet. Tavares wastes little time in jumping to guard with a guillotine while standing. Audinwood succumbs at 3:47 of round one.



Matt Mitrione vs. Joey Beltran

Round 1

Herb Dean starts the contest, and Mitrione immediately presses the action, forcing Beltran up against the cage. Mitrione lands a high kick and a straight left, continuing to press. Beltran circles away, looking for a counter right. Mitrione lands a hard inside leg kick and follows up with a pretty combination upstairs. Beltran lands a big right and then follows up with more rights from the clinch. Beltran takes the fight to the floor, but he's cut. From top position, Beltran avoids Mitrione's work from the guard and is landing decent ground-and-pound. “The Mexicutioner” passes to side control and then north-south, finding a home for heavy body shots. Beltran avoids a triangle attempt, and ends the round in side mount.



Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Beltran

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Beltran

Tomas Rios scores the round 10-9 Beltran



Round 2

The fighters touch gloves as round two begins. Mitrione is again the aggressor, throwing hard kicks to the body and lead leg on Beltran. Mitrione takes the center of the cage and is trying to work his jab. Both fighters look a little weary, and they're starting to throw with wreckless abandon. Mitrione lands a beautiful counter left hand that buckles Beltran, but Beltran land a big shot of his own before closing the distance and pinning the Boilermaker up against the fence. Both men are content to trade with little regard for their own chins. After a brief pause in the action to adjust Beltran's glove, the fight resumes. Mitrione has gone back to the leg kicks, but Beltran is having none of it, and he starts throwing haymakers. Mitrione reciprocates, but somehow neither man finds the other's chin. Mitrione lands two head kicks and a push kick as the round ends.



Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Mitrione

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Mitrione

Tomas Rios scores the round 10-9 Mitrione



Round 3

The fighters again touch gloves to bein the third stanza. Both heavyweights seem to have caught a second wind, and Mitrione is working quick combinations from the outside. Mitrone throws another head kick, but it's blocked solidly by Beltran. The action has slowed, save for an occasional leg kick from Mitrione. Beltran is still bleeding from his left eye, and Mitrione is doing him no favors as he pumps his right jab into Beltran's face.Beltran looks to be fading fast, and Mitrione is gaining confidence and throwing punches in bunches. Mitrone is moving well, but somehow Beltran is still wading forward with haymakers. He gets a piece of Mitrione with a big shot, but it's not enough to win the round. Both fighters throw as the round ends.



Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Mitrione (29-28 Mitrione)

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Mitrione (29-28 Mitrione)

Tomas Rios scores the round 10-9 Mitrione (29-28 Mitrione)



All three official judges agree and see the bout 29-28 for Mitrione, the winner by unanimous decision.



C.B. Dollaway vs. Joe Doerksen

Round 1

The fighters touch gloves to start the fight. Dollaway is looking for an inside leg kick early, then throws a big body kick which is caught by Doerksen. After an impressive front-headlock takedown, Dollaway cinches up an arm-in guillotine and closes his guard. Doerksen seems calm while caught in the submission. After a beautiful scramble, Dollaway keeps track of El Dirte's neck and locks up a modified guillotine, forcing Doerksen to tap out at 2:47 of round one.



Jeremy Stephens vs. Melvin Guillard

Round 1

Guillard swings with a wild overhand right to start the round, but Stephens ducks and counters with a right hook of his own, dropping Guillard to his butt, but not hurting “The Young Assassin.” Guillard pops right back up, and after a few moments charges Stephens, throwing lots of punches but landing none of them. Back in the center of the cage, Guillard is now finding the range with his overhand right. Guillard is light on his feet and now throwing nice one-twos. In contrast Stephens looks stiff, though landing body kicks here and there. As the round comes to a close, Guillard continues to dart in and out with strikes and Stephens continues to try to counter, but neither man lands anything significant.



Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Guillard

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Guillard

Tomas Rios scores the round 10-9 Stephens



Round 2

Stephens lands a stinging leg kick to start the second frame. Guillard continues to use the push kick to set up his heavy right hand. Guillard lands a left kick to the body and presses the action. “Lil' Heathen” lands a nice right uppercut – left hook counter combination. Now Stephens is the one moving forward. Guillard catches Stephens with a low kick to the cup, and referee Josh Rosenthal stops the action briefly. Stephens recovers fast and lands another hard kick to Guillard's lead leg. Stephens catches Guillard with an accidental eye poke, but Guillard is not fazed. Within seconds, Stephens catches Guillard with what appeared initially to be a low blow, but upon further investigation, it appears the kick was clean. As action resumes, Stephens counters another Guillard right hand with a pretty uppercut. Now Stephens is landing cleanly, first with a leg kick and then with a kick to the body. Stephens continues to press forward, and lands another body kick as the round ends.



Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Stephens

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Stephens

Tomas Rios scores the round 10-10



Round 3

Guillard starts the round with combinations, but Stephens counters with that same stinging leg kick. He lands two more. Guillard lands a left hook flush to the cheek of Stephens. Guillard is using his speed advantage to land straights to the head and body. Now Guillard is increasing his work-rate but landing nothing meaningful. Both men look content to stay on the outside and not risk an exchange in tight. Stephens lands a big left uppercut to Guillard's torso, but Guillard isn't hurt. The crowd boos the lack of action. As the horn sounds, it's Stephens moving forward and landing a body kick.



Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Stephens (29-28 Stephens)

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Stephens (29-28 Stephens)

Tomas Rios scores the round 10-9 Stephens (30-28 Stephens)



Official scores: 29-28 Stephens, 29-28 Guillard and 30-27 Guillard. Melvin Guillard takes the split decision.



Evan Dunham vs. Sean Sherk

Round 1

The lightweights touch gloves as the round begins, and Dunhan is feinting with his jab early on. Sherk lands a short leg kick, but Dunham is doing an excellent job of keeping his distance until Sherk closes and slams Dunham to the mat. Dunham has a tight guillotine locked up, but Sherk stays calm and wiggles his way out of the submission attempt. Now Dunham is working from the butterfly guard, trying to land short elbows, but Sherk is in control. Dunham scrambles to his feet, using the cage to regain his base. Sherk immediately locks his hands in a double-leg and once again slams Dunham on his back. Dunham again scrambles to his feet and nearly catches Sherk in a guillotine before gaining back control. Sherk escapes quickly and cuts Dunham with a nasty elbow from Dunham's guard. Dunham's cut is gushing blood, and referee Rob Hinds calls the doctor over. Dunahm is given the OK to continue, and the round ends.



Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Sherk

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Sherk

Tomas Rios scores the round 10-9 Sherk



Round 2

The cut over Dunahm's right eye is massive. Sherk starts the second stanza by getting his shot stuffed, but the stocky lightweight is relentless, again digging for a double-leg. Dunham locks up a tight guillotine yet again, but someone Sherk escapes defeat. Back on their feet, Sherk presses Dunham against the cage, and is content to give up his neck once again to a guillotine choke. After another scramble, Sherk is controlling Dunham with a front headlock. Back in the center of the Octagon, Dunham is once again trying to use his reach, despite wearing a crimson mask over the right side of his face. Dunham is really turning it up now, landing punches and kicks from the outside and two flying knees to end the round.



Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Dunham

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Dunham

Tomas Rios scores the round 10-9 Dunham



Round 3

After a brief exchange, Dunham lands a right high kick that wobbles Sherk, who immediately shoots for a takedown. Dunham pummels for an underhook, but Sherk manages to complete the single-leg. Dunham pops right back up and is landing short elbows and hammer fists while his back is against the fence. Now he gets an underhook and shoves off the Muscle Shark. Dunham looks confident with his strikes, and Sherk's reach disadvantage is glaring. Again Sherk digs for a takedown and again Dunham looks for a guillotine. Back in the center of the cage, Dunham is now landing his overhand left regularly. He follows up with two beautifully timed flying knees that stagger the former champion. Sherk is trying desperately to counter, but he has no answer for Dunham's length as the round comes to a close.



Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Dunham (29-28 Dunham)

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Dunham (29-28 Dunham)

Tomas Rios scores the round 10-9 Dunham (29-28 Dunham)



Official scores: 29-28 (twice) and 28-29 for the winner by split decision, Sean Sherk. The crowd boos the decision loudly.



Matt Serra vs. Chris Lytle

Round 1

As the fight begins, both fighters are throwing with bad intentions, with Lytle targeting the stocky Serra's head, while Serra goes after Lytle's ribs with short hooks. Lytle is finding a home for his jab, and Serra's left eye is cut. After a slip and an awkward scramble, Serra lands a solid overhand right. It's a tough round to score so far, as both men are throwing at about the same clip. However, Lytle seems to be getting the better of it, as evidenced by Serra's left eye. Lytle lands two nice right hands, and follows up with a beautiful one-two combo.



Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Lytle

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Lytle

Tomas Rios scores the round 10-9 Lytle



Round 2

Now Lytle is really looking to land that right hand, and finally does so, staggering Serra. But the Terror isn't deterred, landing a nice left hook of his own. Like Sherk in the previous fight, Serra is suffering from a significant reach disadvantage, and Lytle is taking advantage, flailing away with haymakers at the round's midpoint. Lytle lands a crisp right hand followed by an uppercut, wobbling Serra once again. Lytle lands more heavy shots, but somehow Serra battles back, landing several blows of his own and bulling Lytle up against the fence. Lytle is on fire now, landing bombs on Serra's face, but somehow the New Yorker stays on his feet. The crowd cheers both fighters as the horn blows to end the round.



Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Lytle

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-8 Lytle

Tomas Rios scores the round 10-9 Lytle



Round 3

The friends-turned-foes embrace as the third round begins, and Serra goes back to work with the body shots. Lytle catches Serra with a short uppercut as the Renzo Gracie black belt rushes in after a Lytle slip. Serra looks for an ankle pick, but Lytle slips out of it easily. Serra looks exhausted, landing a leg kick with no snap to it. Serra throws another leg kick, but Lytle catches it and lands more shots. Serra is throwing everything he has into each shot now, but Lytle is the much fresher man. “Lights Out” is keeping Serra on the outside by using his jab, then follows up with several fierce hooks on the inside. Serra throws a high kick, but his leg isn't long enough to reach Lytle's head. The fighters again embrace as the round ends.



Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Lytle (30-37 Lytle)

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Lytle (30-26 Lytle

Tomas Rios scores the round 10-9 Lytle (30-27 Lytle)



Official scores: 30-27 across the board for Chris Lytle, who takes the unanimous decision.



Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs. Ryan Bader

Round 1

Bader presses forward as athe fight begins, and Nogueira circles away from the fence. Nogueira is measuring Bader, and lands an overhand left. Minotoro is circling away and looking to counter against the younger fighter. Bader scores a takedown and starts landing devastating ground-and-pound before Nog can push him off and recover guard. Bader is doing nothing spectacular but continues to maul Nogueria with short punches and elbows from top position. Rogerio manages to wall walk and regain a standing base. Nogueira lands a nice kick to Bader's liver and stuff's a takedown. Nog lands a big right hook, but Bader scores a quick takedown. Nog escapes the position and the round ends with both men standing.



Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Bader

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Bader

Tomas Rios scores the round 10-9 Bader



Round 2

Bader lands a body kick to start round two. Nog lands a glancing left straight, but Bader comes back with a superman punch. Both men are now feeling each other out at a distance, with neither committing to their strikes. Halfway through the round, Bader counters a Nogueira leg kick with a takedown. Nog lands punches off his back from half-guard and regains his feet. Nog lands a knee as Bader dips his head, but Bader pushes the former Pride star away. Both men throw shots, and Bader connects with a solid right to Nogueira's jaw.



Mike Whitman scores the round 10-10

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-10

Tomas Rios scores the round 10-9 Bader



Round 3

The fighters touch gloves to start the round. Both men are standing in the pocket now, and Nogueira catches Bader with an accidental eye poke. Josh Rosenthal halts the action, and Bader recovers quickly, landing a body kick as the fight resumes. Both fighters land shots, and Bader is twice stuffed when trying to take Nog down. Rogerio lands a couple of sharp left hands, and Bader scores a takedown. Nogueira immediately escapes and lands a knee after getting to his feet. Now Nogueira is stalking Bader, looking for an opening. Both men look winded. Neither man can land the big shot they're looking for. Suddenly, they both cut loose and land big shots before Bader scores a takedown. Bader is inactive from Nog's guard as the round ends.



Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Nogueira (29-29 Draw)

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Bader (30-28 Bader)

Tomas Rios scores the round 10-9 Bader (30-27 Bader)



All three official judges see the bout 30-27 for Ryan Bader.



Frank Mir vs. Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic

Round 1

The main event begins with both men showing controlled aggression, followed by a feeling out process. Mir rushes forward and tries for a takedown. Cro Cop stuffs it, but is still being pinned against the fence. Filopovic hits Mir with an accidental knee to the groin and Herb Dean halts the fight to allow Mir to recover. As the fight resumes, Mir is aggressive immediately, and Cro Cop circles away. With both men measuring the distance, Cro Cop throws a lead-leg high kick, but it doesn't connect. Mir lands a body kick and presses Cro Cop against the fence before the Croatian shrugs him off. Mir is tenacious, however, and presses Cro Cop against the fence yet again after an exchange standing. Herb Dean has seen enough and restarts the men in the center of the cage. Cro Cop lands a low kick with the round winding down, but Mir counters with an uppercut.



Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Mir

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-10

Tomas Rios scores the round 10-9 Mir



Round 2

As round two begins, both men begin to throw standing, but neither can land. The crowd boos the inactivity of the heavyweights as Mir forces the clinch. Mir lands a short knee, but Herb Dean is not impressed, and the fight is restarted. Mir presses forward and clinches once more, and the crowd isn't happy. Cro Cop secures double underhooks, but can't shake off the former UFC champion. Herb Dean restarts the fight yet again. Cro Cop lands a leg kick, but doesn't follow up. Cro Cop whiffs with his patented high kick. Both fighters smile. The crowd boos.



Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Mir

Jordan Breen scores the round 10-10

Tomas Rios scores the round 10-10



Round 3

Mir engages to start round three, but Cro Cop counters with a knee to the body. Mir clinches again and tries an outside leg trip unsuccessfully. Neither man is making a strong case for why they deserve to win. Mir ties him up again, but can't score a takedown. Herb Dean restarts the fight again. Both men are refusing to open up, until Mir lands an unbelievable standing knee, knocking Cro Cop out instantly. Mir lands a couple of extra punches for good measure before Herb Dean pulls him off the defeated former Pride star. The official time is 4:02 of round three

UFC 119 Weigh-In Replay

UFC 119 Weigh-In Replay
Main Event


Mirko CroCop (227) VS Frank Mir (252)



PPV

Ryan Bader (205) VS Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (205)

Chris Lytle (171) VS Matt Serra (170)

Evan Dunham (156) VS Sean Sherk (155)

Jeremy Stephens (155) VS Melvin Guillard (155)



SPIKE PRELIMS

Joe Doerksen (186) VS CB Dollaway (186)

Joey Beltran (239) VS Matt Mitrione (253)



PRELIMS

Pat Audinwood (156) VS Thiago Tavares (155)

Waylon Lowe (154) VS Steve Lopez (156)

Julio Paulino (170) VS TJ Grant (170)

Sean McCorkle (263) VS Mark Hunt (265)

UFC 119 Main Card News

Considering that both Mir and Filipovic are notorious frontrunners, there are only two realistic outcomes for this fight. Either one of them puts together some big offense early and ends the fight right there or it turns into an ugly game of survival between two men who are fighting a fair bit heavier than they should be.

While the publicized dynamic of this fight is one of striker vs. grappler, it actually goes much deeper than that given the intellectual bent in Mir’s fighting style. Against Cheick Kongo he had the foresight to know he could get off some offense on the feet if Kongo came out too concerned with defending his takedowns. That’s a level of strategy that Filipovic has never embraced, and with time he has only become more prone to fighting to his own detriment.

After all, it took some desperate pleading from his corner for Filipovic to throw his vaunted left high kick at Pat Barry. Sure enough, the fight turned around as soon as he did. Of course, that was preceded by five minutes of unvarnished beatdown. Mir may occasionally overthink his approach and fall flat on his face, but if Filipovic comes out flat, he’s not going to last long enough to put together a rally.

Way back in the day, Filipovic’s sprawl was enough to stuff most any takedown. The level of wrestling even in the thin heavyweight division has increased dramatically since then, though, and his athleticism hasn’t held up over time. That pancake sprawl was a function of his now faded athleticism, and he doesn’t have the technique to make up for it. Further complicating matters is that he doesn’t use his boxing as well as he used to.

When Filipovic is putting his hands together it becomes very clear very fast that he still has the timing and technique to beat someone of Mir’s caliber. However, much like his kicks, his boxing is a weapon he doesn’t use anywhere near enough. If Filipovic does come out committed to throwing strikes, there is a great chance he lands one cleanly and Mir falls apart as he so often does when he gets hit hard.

Then again, should Mir get his hands on Filipovic and drag him down, the fight basically turns even more one-sided than it is on the feet. Because of the striker-heavy nature of the heavyweight division, Filipovic has only had to work on the floor a few times. Against anyone with real skill he has struggled mightily. Given Mir’s penchant for locking up submissions early, a single first-round takedown is likely all that separates him from a no-fuss win.

However, just as Filipovic so often fails to let his limbs do what they do best, Mir often fails to realize he is and always will be a grappler first. That wouldn’t be such a problem if Mir had the ability to absorb punishment, but that’s just not the case. Granted, most anyone would fall apart if Shane Carwin hit them clean even once, but Mir also got tagged up by Marcio Cruz. Even imagining what would happen if Filipovic hit him has the feel of a Clive Barker novel.

For all the attempts at technical insight out there on this bout, there is simply no way anyone can have a real feel for how this fight will go. Both fighters are too prone to either fighting to their own detriment or simply fighting with some terrible excuse for strategy. Keeping that in mind, I think Mir will test his luck on the feet for a bit and end up splayed out on the canvas. Just by thinking that, I think I may have guaranteed Mir a first-round submission win, but I’m sticking by the Croatian Jack Bauer for once.

ultimate fighter 12 reviews and highlights

Move over Mike Swick, and take that "Swickotine" with you.




A cast member of the original season of "The Ultimate Fighter," Swick hasn't used his cleverly titled submission hold since 2006.



Meanwhile, "The Ultimate Fighter 12" cast member Cody McKenzie has utilized his modified guillotine choke (which he's aptly dubbed the "McKenzietine") to earn victory in his past nine official contests, and every finish has come in the very first round.



"I've got caught tons of guys in it," McKenzie told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "I'm hoping to catch Georges St-Pierre in it before the season's over.



"It's an angle thing. [In a traditional guillotine], you're missing an artery. When I push up, you're hitting both arteries. There's no room."



Growing up, McKenzie didn't appear to be heading toward a career in professional fighting. The Alaska native took a little judo and wrestled for a spell, but sports didn't really appeal to him right away. Instead, McKenzie spent more time trapping, fishing and hunting both in Alaska and during his time down south in the Pacific Northwest.



Of course, that didn't mean he was totally immune to the fight game during his formative years.



"I have an older brother who's a lot bigger than me, and I've always fought with him, and his friends always beat me up," McKenzie admitted. "I was in plenty of fights, and growing up in a small fishing community in Alaska, there's not much to do in a place like that other than drink and fight, so I saw a lot of that growing up.



"It would be a big old circle of kids, and they would throw two pairs of 16-ounce gloves in the middle, and two people would walk in the middle, glove up, and bang-bang-bang-bang."



But once McKenzie caught a glimpse of the UFC on TV, his life's direction was changed forever .



"I watched it on TV my sophomore year of high school," McKenzie said. "From then on out, I knew what I wanted to do. Right when I first watched it, it clicked for me, and I knew I wanted to become a professional fighter.



"I found a Muay Thai gym up in Canada. I used to drive an hour and 15 minutes to practice every day, then drive an hour and 15 minutes home and go to high school. Then I'd drive to practice again. It was the same routine six days a week."



McKenzie eventually relocated to rural Washington where he began to focus on a professional career in fighting. He would return to Alaska during the summers to make money as a commercial fisherman, but other than that, fighting was his focus.



A chance encounter with fighter-in-the-making Lyle Beerbohm led McKenzie to his current training home as a part of the Fancy Pants Fight Team.



"I met [Beerbohm] a week out of prison," McKenzie said. "We hit it off, and we've been good friends since then.



"He came into one of the gyms I was at where I was kind of coaching. He said, 'I want to fight! I want to fight!' He was all gung ho to glove up. I was like, 'Alright.' We gloved up, and I beat him up. A few people beat him up, actually, but now he's the top dog."



McKenzie feels his life up to this point has him well-prepared for success on "The Ultimate Fighter" - both in the cage as well as in the difficult environment at the "TUF" house.



"Growing up commercial fishing and stuff, we're out on a boat for long periods of time," McKenzie said. "It's a small compact, environment. I'm pretty used to cabin fever and stuff like that.



"I ain't too worried about it. I'll be fine."



How far McKenzie goes in this season of "The Ultimate Fighter" remains to be seen, but thing is certain: If the rangy lightweight's opponents don't watch their neck, he'll undoubtedly be fishing for a "McKenzietine."



"I do other things," McKenzie said. "In amateur fights, I caught guys in triangles and triangle-armbars and rear-naked chokes and stuff, but for some reason as a pro I just keep getting them in the guillotine."



MMAjunkie.com interviewed all 14 of "The Ultimate Fighter 12's" preliminary round winners, each of whom was featured in the debut episode of "TUF 12: Team GSP vs. Team Koscheck." Two new interviews will be released each day from now until the season's second episode airs next Wednesday at 10 p.m. PT/ET on Spike TV. Full series coverage can be found on "The Ultimate Fighter 12" page.

Josh Koscheck vs George St. Pierre watch video The Ultimate Fighter 12 Team GSP vs Team Koscheck

Josh Koscheck vs George St. Pierre
The Ultimate Fighter 12


Team GSP vs Team Koscheck

MMA Scraps Radio Another jam packed show with special guest Mike Swick, Razor Rob and Mike Dolce. We'll be talking about the fall out from UFC 118 and what is going on in mma world

Listen to internet radio with MMA Scraps Radio on Blog Talk Radio

Watch Bellator 27 ( Sunday night Fights )

San Antonio, Tx. (September 1, 2010) - On the eve of Bellator Fighting Championships' much-anticipated matchup between Joe Soto and Joe Warren, the fighters competing in tomorrow's event participated in an official weigh-in earlier this evening -- all making weight.




Bellator 27 will be broadcast live in prime time nationwide on Thursday on FOX Sports Net and during special Bellator highlight shows this Saturday night on NBC and mun2.



The official results of the weigh-in are as follows:



MAIN CARD:

Bellator Featherweight Champion Joe "The Hammer" Soto (144.8 lbs.) vs. Joe Warren (143.6 lbs.) @ 145 lbs.

Bryan Goldsby (135.8 lbs.) vs. Ed West (135 lbs.) @ 135 lbs.

Nick Mamalis (135.8 lbs.) vs. Zach Makovsky (134.4 lbs.) @135 lbs.

Travis Reddinger (135 lbs.) vs. Uylsses Gomez (135.2 lbs.) @135 lbs.



UNDERCARD:

Andrew Craig (184 lbs.) vs. Rodrigo Pinheiro (185) @185 lbs.

Aaron Barringer(154.4 lbs.) vs. Gilbert Jimenez( 154.2 ) @ 155 lbs.

Dale Mitchell(264.2 lbs. ) vs. Richard Odoms(260.4 lbs.) @ 265 lbs.

Steven Peterson (145.5 lbs.) vs. Ernest De La Cruz (144.4 lbs.) @ 145 lbs.

Joe Christopher (170.6 lbs.) vs. Andrew Chappelle (169.6 lbs.) @ 170 lbs

John Kirk (205 lbs.) vs. Shane Faulkner (204.6 lbs.) @ 205 lbs.

mma and ufc have ther own international tournament ?

For years, many mixed martial arts fans have wondered aloud why their favorite sport isn't a part of the Olympic Games.




After all, with boxing, judo, wrestling and tae kwon do already slated as modern Olympic events, what's the problem with adding the arts together?



That's an argument for another time and place. UFC president Dana White has far more pressing concerns on his mind. And besides, he envisions an international tournament staged far more frequently than every Olympiad.



"What we're starting to do now is we're working on ways to get 'The Ultimate Fighter' in other countries," White said. "We're going to start getting 'The Ultimate Fighter' in each of these different countries and try to figure out how when we do the finales, the finale would be all the countries come together and everybody fights."



White has long discussed the plan for international versions of the long-running Spike TV series "The Ultimate Fighter." Canada and the Middle East have been tagged as frontrunners, though the UFC's recent expansion into China has also opened up another potential market.



White said he envisions a system in which the multiple versions of the show can run simultaneously and culminate in a massive international finale. And while there was some initial concern that fans would fans it difficult to track the results of the international versions of "The Ultimate Fighter," White said as the promotion expands, company officials are actively seeking out ways to broadcast the fights around the globe.



"Technology is our friend," White said. "There's more ways to watch this stuff. People will be able to watch the 'The Ultimate Fighter' from other countries online or however. That's our long-term goal and what we're working on and trying to figure out how to do it."



White has admitted in the past that as the company visits foreign lands, the prized recruits will likely be found in the sport's smaller divisions. As such, he sees WEC-focused versions of "The Ultimate Fighter" on the horizon, and he still sees the flyweight division as part of the sister promotion's future.



"As we continue to do more fights and continue to travel around, we need more weight divisions," White said. "So we're going to be adding weight divisions and getting those lighter weights in there."



With the UFC already operating at a breakneck speed, it's hard to imagine the promotion's activities multiplied exponentially on a global scale, but White seems to think it's possible.



And while some fans are concerned the quality of the sport may be diluted over time, White has no such fears.
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"It's scary how many fights (we're going to do)," White said. We just did four fights last month. As this thing continues to open up to different places, and as long as we can keep putting on great cards, we're just going to keep popping out fights left and right.

yahoo.com mma

"People always ask, 'Are you over-saturating?' Are there too many football games on? Are there too many baseball games on? As long as we're putting on great fights, we're going to keep doing it."