Both Strikeforce champs, Nick Diaz and Jacare defeated their contenders by submission. Watch recaps of Diaz vs. Evangelista Cyborg, Jacare Souza vs. Robbie Lawler, Roger Gracie vs. Trevor Prangley, and Herschel Walker vs. Scott Carson.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu BJJ Internet Radio
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Recap:watch highlights Strikeforce Diaz vs. Cyborg, plus Jacare vs. Lawler, Roger Gracie...
Both Strikeforce champs, Nick Diaz and Jacare defeated their contenders by submission. Watch recaps of Diaz vs. Evangelista Cyborg, Jacare Souza vs. Robbie Lawler, Roger Gracie vs. Trevor Prangley, and Herschel Walker vs. Scott Carson.
Herschel Walker vs. Scott Carson - Strikeforce Diaz vs Cyborg
Herschel Walker vs. Scott Carson - Strikeforce Diaz vs Cyborg
Armin Safiari Defeated Sam Bracamonte via Unanimous Decision (No scores announced)
Ricky Jackson Defeated Niko Jackson via Unanimous Decision
Anthony Dariano Defeated Alan Perez via Unanimous Decision
The Gracie Diet
Preliminary Bouts:
Jenna Castillo Defeated Charlene Gellner via TKO (Knees) at 3:57 in the 2ndRound
James Terry Defeated Lucas Gamaza via TKO (Strikes) at 3:26 in the 1stRound
Germaine de Randamie Defeated Stephanie Webber via TKO (Strikes) at 4:25 in the 1stRound
Ron Keslar Defeated Eric Lawson via Submission (Armbar) at 1:57 in the 1stRound
Isaiah Hill Defeated Bobby Stack via Submission (Triangle Choke) at 1:02 in the 1stRound
Nate Moore Defeated Nathan Coy via KO (Punches) at 0:25 in the 2ndRound
Main Bouts:
Roger Gracie Defeated Trevor Prangley via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 4:19 in the 1stRound
Herschel Walker Defeated Scott Carson via TKO (Strikes) at 3:13 in the 1stRound
Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza Defeated Robbie Lawler via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 2:00 in the 3rdRound (Jacare retains Strikeforce Middleweight Title)
Nick Diaz Defeated Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos via Submission (Armbar) at 4:50 in the 2ndRound (Diaz retains Strikeforce Welterweight Title)
Armin Safiari Defeated Sam Bracamonte via Unanimous Decision (No scores announced)
Ricky Jackson Defeated Niko Jackson via Unanimous Decision
Anthony Dariano Defeated Alan Perez via Unanimous Decision
The Gracie Diet
Preliminary Bouts:
Jenna Castillo Defeated Charlene Gellner via TKO (Knees) at 3:57 in the 2ndRound
James Terry Defeated Lucas Gamaza via TKO (Strikes) at 3:26 in the 1stRound
Germaine de Randamie Defeated Stephanie Webber via TKO (Strikes) at 4:25 in the 1stRound
Ron Keslar Defeated Eric Lawson via Submission (Armbar) at 1:57 in the 1stRound
Isaiah Hill Defeated Bobby Stack via Submission (Triangle Choke) at 1:02 in the 1stRound
Nate Moore Defeated Nathan Coy via KO (Punches) at 0:25 in the 2ndRound
Main Bouts:
Roger Gracie Defeated Trevor Prangley via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 4:19 in the 1stRound
Herschel Walker Defeated Scott Carson via TKO (Strikes) at 3:13 in the 1stRound
Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza Defeated Robbie Lawler via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 2:00 in the 3rdRound (Jacare retains Strikeforce Middleweight Title)
Nick Diaz Defeated Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos via Submission (Armbar) at 4:50 in the 2ndRound (Diaz retains Strikeforce Welterweight Title)
Nick Diaz vs. Evangelista Cyborg Santos - Strikeforce
Nick Diaz vs. Evangelista Cyborg Santos - Strikeforce
watch last nighrs fight , thoughts , ??
Armin Safiari Defeated Sam Bracamonte via Unanimous Decision (No scores announced)
Ricky Jackson Defeated Niko Jackson via Unanimous Decision
Anthony Dariano Defeated Alan Perez via Unanimous Decision
Preliminary Bouts:
Jenna Castillo Defeated Charlene Gellner via TKO (Knees) at 3:57 in the 2ndRound
James Terry Defeated Lucas Gamaza via TKO (Strikes) at 3:26 in the 1stRound
Germaine de Randamie Defeated Stephanie Webber via TKO (Strikes) at 4:25 in the 1stRound
Ron Keslar Defeated Eric Lawson via Submission (Armbar) at 1:57 in the 1stRound
Isaiah Hill Defeated Bobby Stack via Submission (Triangle Choke) at 1:02 in the 1stRound
Nate Moore Defeated Nathan Coy via KO (Punches) at 0:25 in the 2ndRound
Main Bouts:
Roger Gracie Defeated Trevor Prangley via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 4:19 in the 1stRound
Herschel Walker Defeated Scott Carson via TKO (Strikes) at 3:13 in the 1stRound
Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza Defeated Robbie Lawler via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 2:00 in the 3rdRound (Jacare retains Strikeforce Middleweight Title)
Nick Diaz Defeated Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos via Submission (Armbar) at 4:50 in the 2ndRound (Diaz retains Strikeforce Welterweight Title)
watch last nighrs fight , thoughts , ??
Armin Safiari Defeated Sam Bracamonte via Unanimous Decision (No scores announced)
Ricky Jackson Defeated Niko Jackson via Unanimous Decision
Anthony Dariano Defeated Alan Perez via Unanimous Decision
Preliminary Bouts:
Jenna Castillo Defeated Charlene Gellner via TKO (Knees) at 3:57 in the 2ndRound
James Terry Defeated Lucas Gamaza via TKO (Strikes) at 3:26 in the 1stRound
Germaine de Randamie Defeated Stephanie Webber via TKO (Strikes) at 4:25 in the 1stRound
Ron Keslar Defeated Eric Lawson via Submission (Armbar) at 1:57 in the 1stRound
Isaiah Hill Defeated Bobby Stack via Submission (Triangle Choke) at 1:02 in the 1stRound
Nate Moore Defeated Nathan Coy via KO (Punches) at 0:25 in the 2ndRound
Main Bouts:
Roger Gracie Defeated Trevor Prangley via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 4:19 in the 1stRound
Herschel Walker Defeated Scott Carson via TKO (Strikes) at 3:13 in the 1stRound
Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza Defeated Robbie Lawler via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 2:00 in the 3rdRound (Jacare retains Strikeforce Middleweight Title)
Nick Diaz Defeated Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos via Submission (Armbar) at 4:50 in the 2ndRound (Diaz retains Strikeforce Welterweight Title)
Saturday, January 29, 2011
watch Strikeforce Weigh-In Diaz vs Cyborg Jan 28th 2011
Strikeforce Weigh-In Diaz vs Cyborg Jan 28th 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Watch UFC Fight For The Troops Evan Dunham vs Melvin Guillard
Guillard's amazing and unexpected win over the heavily favored Dunham by saying Guillard's three illegal knees. Correction coming your way; The reason Guillard was not penalized for the final knee that landed as Dunham was collapsing to the ground is because Guillard was already in full motion before Dunham hit the ground. No ill intent, just finishing the fight. He corrected to punches as soon as he realized that Dunham was down.
UFC Fight For The Troops Cole Miller vs Matt Wiman
STRIKEFORCE World Grand Prix -- Heavyweight Tournament, a three-stage, single-elimination tournament
STRIKEFORCE has assembled eight of the world's top ranked heavyweights to compete in the STRIKEFORCE World Grand Prix -- Heavyweight Tournament, a three-stage, single-elimination tournament that will take place over several events in 2011. The first two quarterfinal fights begin on Saturday, Feb. 12, live on SHOWTIME from the IZOD Center in E. Rutherford, N.J. In the main event, the 34-year-old Fedor Emelianenko will face the towering Antonio "Big Foot" Silva (15-2) in a STRIKEFORCE and M-1 GLOBAL co-promoted event. Co-featured on Feb. 12, former world champion Andrei Arlovski (15-8) will face Sergei Kharitonov (17-4), Pride FC and K-1 veteran as well as the last man to defeat current STRIKEFORCE Heavyweight World Champion Alistair "The Demolition Man" Overeem.
Monday, January 17, 2011
STRIKEFORCE WORLD GRAND PRIX-M-1 GLOBAL’S Fedor Emelianenko Joins Elite Heavyweight Tournament
"My next opponent is Overeem. I beat Overeem three years ago. I (will) beat Overeem one more time."
"Overeem (is just) training stand-up, because he won K-1 last month. My goal is on the ground. Overeem be careful on the ground, because I'll (get) the other arm."
Odds to win the Strikeforce Heavyweight GP 2011- $100 Limit:
Fedor Emelianenko +170
Alistair Overeem +180
Josh Barnett +350
Andrei Arlovski +950
Fabricio Werdum +1400
Antonio Silva +1800
Sergei Kharitonov +2000
Brett Rogers +2200
Shane del Rosario +3000
Valentijn Overeem +3500
Lavar Johnson +4000
Ray Sefo +4500
Any fighter not listed (Chad Griggs, Gian Villante) +5000
Source: Strikeforce
Strikeforce heavyweight fighter Fabricio "Vai Cavallo" Werdum will make his return to the cage from an injury-induced layoff against Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem in what will be a quarter-final bout in the upcoming Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix.
Werdum is coming off of the biggest win of his life, having toppled MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko over the summer, and already holds a win over the champion (he defeated Overeem in a PRIDE Grand Prix bout in 2006). Considering this and his claim to full health, Werdum believes that he has everything going for him to win the Grand Prix.
"I feel good. I'm excited for the tournament, my second tournament," Werdum said in a Strikeforce promo video. "I like the idea, congratulations Scott [Coker]. I'm preparing in everything, stand up, the ground--I'm one hundred percent in my mind and my body. I will win this tournament."
STRIKEFORCE has assembled eight of the world’s top ranked heavyweights to compete in the STRIKEFORCE World Grand Prix – Heavyweight Tournament, a three-stage, single-elimination tournament that will take place over several events in 2011. The first two quarterfinal fights begin on Saturday, Feb. 12, live on SHOWTIME from the IZOD Center in E. Rutherford, N.J. In the main event, the 34-year-old Emelianenko will face the towering Antonio “Big Foot” Silva (15-2) in a STRIKEFORCE and M-1 GLOBAL co-promoted event. Co-featured on Feb. 12, former world champion Andrei Arlovski (15-8) will face Sergei Kharitonov (16-4), the last man to defeat current STRIKEFORCE Heavyweight World Champion Alistair “The Demolition Man” Overeem.
The other two quarterfinal matchups are as follows: Overeem (34-11, 1 NC) will face the only man to tap out Fedor, the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist Fabricio Werdum (14-4-1), while the heavy-handed Brett “The Grim” Rogers (11-2) will meet a hungry Josh Barnett (29-5). The location and date for these quarterfinal tournament fights are to be announced.
“We are thrilled to have come to a long-term agreement with Fedor and M-1 GLOBAL,” said STRIKEFORCE CEO Scott Coker. “To have the greatest MMA fighter of all-time put his legacy on the line in a single-elimination tournament will truly captivate MMA fans worldwide. STRIKEFORCE is home to the best heavyweight division in the world; the athlete who runs the gauntlet in a tournament such as this would have to be considered the best heavyweight fighter in the world.”
CAGE FIGHTER FEDOR MMA WALKOUT WHITE BLAST SHIRT SIZE XX-LARGE
“I’m very pleased to be working with SHOWTIME and STRIKEFORCE and Mr. Coker and Mr. Hershman personally. Thanks to their interest and efforts, we’ve created what will go down in history as MMA’s greatest heavyweight tournament of all time,” said Vadim Finkelchtein, co-founder of M-1 Global. “M-1, STRIKEFORCE and SHOWTIME have built a partnership committed to the future growth of MMA—a sport where organizations represent a working collaborative that enable the best fighters in the world to fight each other. This agreement benefits everyone, especially the fans who’ll see Fedor in action more often.
“With SHOWTIME’s significance in the U.S. and M-1’s development of the European and Asian MMA markets, the cooperation will also deliver a global roster of talented fighters to viewers,” Finkelchtein continued. “During the coming year, we’ll be showcasing spectacular Grand Prix events using the same M-1 Selection tournament format, a series of events generating enthusiastic spectator interest keeping fans glued to their screens.”
“I can’t think of a better way to start 2011 than with this major announcement,” said Ken Hershman, Executive Vice President and General Manager of SHOWTIME Sports®. “Fedor is universally known to sports fans throughout the world and it is an honor to continue our work with M-1 GLOBAL and STRIKEFORCE in presenting this legendary fighter to SHOWTIME subscribers.
“SHOWTIME has enjoyed great success with its two most recent boxing tournaments—the Super Six World Boxing Classic and The Bantamweight Tournament,” Hershman continued. “And now, with the breadth of talent in the STRIKEFORCE heavyweight division, we have the privilege of staging one of the biggest tournaments in the history of this growing sport. With the STRIKEFORCE World Grand Prix’s single-elimination format and the biggest names in the sport today, this tournament is something that no sports fan will want to miss.”
“I have been training very hard since my last fight and can’t wait to get back in the cage,” said the 6-foot, 235-pound Emelianenko, who hails from Stary Oskol, Russia and is promoted by M-1 GLOBAL. “STRIKEFORCE has assembled a roster filled with the best heavyweights in the world and, together with M-1 GLOBAL, we have the opportunity to fight the best in a great tournament format.”
Fedor’s unprecedented, record-setting run of 28 professional MMA bouts without a defeat has prompted many MMA enthusiasts to label Fedor as the greatest of all time. Since his career began 10 years ago, Fedor has faced and defeated many rival superstars and champions of this era including Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic, Andrei Arlovski and Mark “The Hammer” Coleman.
In what ranks among the most watched MMA fights in the United States, Fedor made his live primetime network television debut on Nov. 7, 2009 on CBS, when he defeated unbeaten rising star Brett Rogers in a STRIKEFORCE and M-1 GLOBAL co-promoted event. Despite a difficult first round in which he sustained a deep cut above his eye, Fedor turned the tide early in the second round with one vicious right-hand punch and finished Rogers shortly after.
Then, on June 26, 2010, Fedor suffered a stunning upset at the hands of Werdum, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., in one of the most watched MMA bouts on SHOWTIME. Werdum, who has defeated a host of top rivals including Overeem, Silva and Brandon “The Truth” Vera, trapped Fedor’s arm in a triangle armbar that forced Fedor to tap out at the 1:09 mark of the opening round.
Who will win the Strikeforce Heavyweight Tournament?
Fedor Emelianenko
Alistair Overeem
Fabricio Werdum
Antonio Silva
Brett Rodgers
Josh Barn
Andrei Arlovskiett
Sergei Kharitonov
"Overeem (is just) training stand-up, because he won K-1 last month. My goal is on the ground. Overeem be careful on the ground, because I'll (get) the other arm."
Odds to win the Strikeforce Heavyweight GP 2011- $100 Limit:
Fedor Emelianenko +170
Alistair Overeem +180
Josh Barnett +350
Andrei Arlovski +950
Fabricio Werdum +1400
Antonio Silva +1800
Sergei Kharitonov +2000
Brett Rogers +2200
Shane del Rosario +3000
Valentijn Overeem +3500
Lavar Johnson +4000
Ray Sefo +4500
Any fighter not listed (Chad Griggs, Gian Villante) +5000
Source: Strikeforce
Strikeforce heavyweight fighter Fabricio "Vai Cavallo" Werdum will make his return to the cage from an injury-induced layoff against Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem in what will be a quarter-final bout in the upcoming Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix.
Werdum is coming off of the biggest win of his life, having toppled MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko over the summer, and already holds a win over the champion (he defeated Overeem in a PRIDE Grand Prix bout in 2006). Considering this and his claim to full health, Werdum believes that he has everything going for him to win the Grand Prix.
"I feel good. I'm excited for the tournament, my second tournament," Werdum said in a Strikeforce promo video. "I like the idea, congratulations Scott [Coker]. I'm preparing in everything, stand up, the ground--I'm one hundred percent in my mind and my body. I will win this tournament."
STRIKEFORCE has assembled eight of the world’s top ranked heavyweights to compete in the STRIKEFORCE World Grand Prix – Heavyweight Tournament, a three-stage, single-elimination tournament that will take place over several events in 2011. The first two quarterfinal fights begin on Saturday, Feb. 12, live on SHOWTIME from the IZOD Center in E. Rutherford, N.J. In the main event, the 34-year-old Emelianenko will face the towering Antonio “Big Foot” Silva (15-2) in a STRIKEFORCE and M-1 GLOBAL co-promoted event. Co-featured on Feb. 12, former world champion Andrei Arlovski (15-8) will face Sergei Kharitonov (16-4), the last man to defeat current STRIKEFORCE Heavyweight World Champion Alistair “The Demolition Man” Overeem.
The other two quarterfinal matchups are as follows: Overeem (34-11, 1 NC) will face the only man to tap out Fedor, the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist Fabricio Werdum (14-4-1), while the heavy-handed Brett “The Grim” Rogers (11-2) will meet a hungry Josh Barnett (29-5). The location and date for these quarterfinal tournament fights are to be announced.
“We are thrilled to have come to a long-term agreement with Fedor and M-1 GLOBAL,” said STRIKEFORCE CEO Scott Coker. “To have the greatest MMA fighter of all-time put his legacy on the line in a single-elimination tournament will truly captivate MMA fans worldwide. STRIKEFORCE is home to the best heavyweight division in the world; the athlete who runs the gauntlet in a tournament such as this would have to be considered the best heavyweight fighter in the world.”
CAGE FIGHTER FEDOR MMA WALKOUT WHITE BLAST SHIRT SIZE XX-LARGE
“I’m very pleased to be working with SHOWTIME and STRIKEFORCE and Mr. Coker and Mr. Hershman personally. Thanks to their interest and efforts, we’ve created what will go down in history as MMA’s greatest heavyweight tournament of all time,” said Vadim Finkelchtein, co-founder of M-1 Global. “M-1, STRIKEFORCE and SHOWTIME have built a partnership committed to the future growth of MMA—a sport where organizations represent a working collaborative that enable the best fighters in the world to fight each other. This agreement benefits everyone, especially the fans who’ll see Fedor in action more often.
“With SHOWTIME’s significance in the U.S. and M-1’s development of the European and Asian MMA markets, the cooperation will also deliver a global roster of talented fighters to viewers,” Finkelchtein continued. “During the coming year, we’ll be showcasing spectacular Grand Prix events using the same M-1 Selection tournament format, a series of events generating enthusiastic spectator interest keeping fans glued to their screens.”
“I can’t think of a better way to start 2011 than with this major announcement,” said Ken Hershman, Executive Vice President and General Manager of SHOWTIME Sports®. “Fedor is universally known to sports fans throughout the world and it is an honor to continue our work with M-1 GLOBAL and STRIKEFORCE in presenting this legendary fighter to SHOWTIME subscribers.
“SHOWTIME has enjoyed great success with its two most recent boxing tournaments—the Super Six World Boxing Classic and The Bantamweight Tournament,” Hershman continued. “And now, with the breadth of talent in the STRIKEFORCE heavyweight division, we have the privilege of staging one of the biggest tournaments in the history of this growing sport. With the STRIKEFORCE World Grand Prix’s single-elimination format and the biggest names in the sport today, this tournament is something that no sports fan will want to miss.”
“I have been training very hard since my last fight and can’t wait to get back in the cage,” said the 6-foot, 235-pound Emelianenko, who hails from Stary Oskol, Russia and is promoted by M-1 GLOBAL. “STRIKEFORCE has assembled a roster filled with the best heavyweights in the world and, together with M-1 GLOBAL, we have the opportunity to fight the best in a great tournament format.”
Fedor’s unprecedented, record-setting run of 28 professional MMA bouts without a defeat has prompted many MMA enthusiasts to label Fedor as the greatest of all time. Since his career began 10 years ago, Fedor has faced and defeated many rival superstars and champions of this era including Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic, Andrei Arlovski and Mark “The Hammer” Coleman.
In what ranks among the most watched MMA fights in the United States, Fedor made his live primetime network television debut on Nov. 7, 2009 on CBS, when he defeated unbeaten rising star Brett Rogers in a STRIKEFORCE and M-1 GLOBAL co-promoted event. Despite a difficult first round in which he sustained a deep cut above his eye, Fedor turned the tide early in the second round with one vicious right-hand punch and finished Rogers shortly after.
Then, on June 26, 2010, Fedor suffered a stunning upset at the hands of Werdum, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., in one of the most watched MMA bouts on SHOWTIME. Werdum, who has defeated a host of top rivals including Overeem, Silva and Brandon “The Truth” Vera, trapped Fedor’s arm in a triangle armbar that forced Fedor to tap out at the 1:09 mark of the opening round.
Who will win the Strikeforce Heavyweight Tournament?
Fedor Emelianenko
Alistair Overeem
Fabricio Werdum
Antonio Silva
Brett Rodgers
Josh Barn
Andrei Arlovskiett
Sergei Kharitonov
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Strikeforce and M-1 Global Present: Fedor vs Silva- Heavyweight Tournament, a three-stage, single-elimination tournament
Strikeforce and M-1 Global Present: Fedor vs Silva
MAIN CARD
FEDOR EMELIANENKO VS ANTONIO “BIGFOOT” SILVA
32-2-1
230 lbs
6’0″
34
Stary Oskol, Russia RECORD
WEIGHT
HEIGHT
AGE
CITY 15-2
265 lbs
6’4″
31
ParaÃba, Brazil
ANDREI ARLOVSKI VS SERGEI KHARITONOV
15-8
242 lbs
6’4″
31
Chicago, Illinois RECORD
WEIGHT
HEIGHT
AGE
CITY 17-4
250 lbs
6’3″
30
Tula, Russia
CAGE FIGHTER FEDOR MMA WALKOUT WHITE BLAST SHIRT SIZE XX-LARGE
SAT, FEBRUARY 12 10:00 PM/ET
(Prelims at 7:30 PM)
IZOD Center – E. Rutherford, NJ
Tickets go on sale to the public at 10 AM/ET on Friday, January 14th.
Strikeforce Insiders Exclusive Pre-Sale Opportunity:
Wednesday, January 12 at 10 AM/ET until Thursday, January 13 at 10 PM/ET.
ALL HEAVYWEIGHT CARD SET FOR WORLD GRAND PRIX KICKOFF FEB. 12
by Strikeforce
January 11, 2011 Top-Heavy: Shane Del Rosario-Lavar Johnson,
Chad Griggs-Gian Villante, Valentijn Overeem-Ray Sefo
At IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J.
Ticket Pre-Sale Begins Tomorrow/Wednesday
NEW YORK (Dec. 11, 2011) – Six additional hard-hitting heavyweight fighters have been called to action for the STRIKEFORCE and M-1 Global co-promotion and historic kick-off of the STRIKEFORCE World Grand Prix – Heavyweight Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 12, live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J.
The three fights are: Undefeated top prospect Shane Del Rosario (10-0) of Irvine, Calif., vs. hard-hitting Lavar “Big’’ Johnson (15-3) of Madera, Calif., Chad “The Grave Digger’’ Griggs (9-1) of Tucson, Ariz., vs. Gian (pronounced “John”) Villante (7-1) of Bellmore, N.Y., and Valentijn Overeem (28-25) of Amsterdam, Holland, vs. Ray “Sugarfoot’’ Sefo (2-0) of Las Vegas.
“This event will showcase the depth of talent in the STRIKEFORCE heavyweight roster,” said STRIKEFORCE CEO Scott Coker. “Shane and Lavar are two products of the STRIKEFORCE Challengers series that has been instrumental in developing new talent. We are proud to welcome them to our championship series for the first time on Feb. 12 and excited to show the world that STRIKEFORCE is home to the best heavyweights on the planet.”
The all heavyweight main card will be highlighted by two sensational quarterfinal bouts in the single-elimination STRIKEFORCE World Grand Prix – Heavyweight Tournament.
Fedor “The Last Emperor” Emelianenko (31-2, 1 NC), of Stary Oskol, Russia, returns against Brazil’s Antonio “Big Foot” Silva (15-2) of Campina Grande, Paraiba, Brazil in the main event. The co-feature will match former world champion Andrei Arlovski (15-8), of Chicago by way of Minsk, Belarus, against Sergei Kharitonov (16-4) of Moscow, Russia. Kharitonov is the last fighter to defeat STRIKEFORCE Heavyweight World Champion Alistair Overeem.
The promising 6-foot-4, 27-year-old Rosario has won nine of his 10 fights in the opening round, including a 3:38 first-round TKO (knees and punches) over Lolohea Mahe during a STRIKEFORCE Challengers event in his last outing on July 23, 2010, at Everett, Wash. Prior to that, Rosario registered a rare omoplata submission victory over Brandon Cash at 2:27 of the first on Nov. 6, 2009, on STRIKEFORCE Challengers at Fresno, Calif.
“I’m looking forward to fighting again and fighting Lavar on Feb. 12,” said Rosario, a Muay Thai specialist whose longest fight lasted a total of 4:07. “We’ve both fought on Challengers and now we get to show what we can do on a big show. I’m excited about that. This will be a great fight between two hungry fighters.”
The heavy-handed Johnson has been triumphant in seven consecutive fights, winning all by (T)KO, including three straight on Challengers. This will be his third fight since returning to the cage after he was gunned down while attending a family barbeque during the July 4 holiday in 2009. Johnson survived three gunshot wounds from a walk-by shooting that led to the death of his cousin. A father of two boys, Johnson spent 30 days in a hospital fighting for his life and several more months rehabilitating.
“I want to be known as a fighter, not as a guy who got shot, and this is my greatest opportunity to do that,” said the 6-foot-3, 33-year-old who stopped Virgil Zwicker at 2:17 of the first round on Oct. 22, 2010. “I feel like I’m ready to move up to the big stage. Fighting a talented fighter like Rosario is a huge step and, with our records, there is no way this cannot be one of the most exciting fights of the night.”
Thirteen of Johnson’s 15 victories have come via either knockout or TKO.
Griggs, a winner in four consecutive fights, is coming off a bloody, upset second-round TKO (retirement) over former pro wrestling superstar and previously unbeaten MMA fighter, Bobby Lashley, on Aug. 21, 2010, in Houston, on SHOWTIME.
A fulltime Tucson firefighter and paramedic, the 6-foot-1, 32-year-old Griggs opened up a gushing cut over Lashley’s left eye in the first round after getting taken to the ground and ultimately outlasted the previously unbeaten MMA fighter in the second as a still-bleeding Lashley seemed to gas.
The courageous, come-from-behind triumph may have been the most noteworthy for a well-rounded, strong finisher known for quick endings and tricky submissions. Six of Griggs’ victories came in the first round, and he has scored knockouts in eight of his nine victories.
“It was a dream come true to fight for STRIKEFORCE and getting a super win in a big fight like that was huge for me,’’ Griggs said. “I appreciate the opportunity to show what I can do again against another tough opponent.”
Villante is a 6-foot-2, 25-year-old grappling stud who was born and raised on Long Island. Before he wrestled and played football at Hofstra University, he was an All-State football player and All-American wrestler at MacArthur High in Levittown, N.Y.
After trying out with the NFL’s New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles, Villante turned to MMA in late 2008. “I got hooked the first time I went to an MMA fight card and saw one of my high school wrestling coaches KO some guy in a few seconds,” he said. “I was still a senior in high school but I got that feeling that I could maybe do this, and it was always in the back of my mind.
“I knew when my dream to play in the NFL ended that this was what I wanted to do. Now, fighting MMA has become more of a dream than football. I’m extremely excited about fighting for STRIKEFORCE on SHOWTIME. This is a tremendous opportunity and it is like a home game for me.”
Without the benefit of an amateur career, Villante turned pro on Feb. 20, 2009, and won his initial six fights. His lone defeat came when he dislocated an elbow in a bout halted in the opening round on April 16, 2010. Villante is coming off a 1:03, first-round TKO over Joseph Reyes on Dec. 3, 2010. It was his sixth success in the first round.
The older brother of Alistair Overeem, Valentijn Overeem is a fierce, dangerous striker who has won his last two fights in a combined time of 47 seconds. The 6-foot-3, 34-year-old Dutch Destroyer scored a 40-second KO (knee) over Catalin Zmarandescu on May 21, 2010. In his outing before last, the previous April 17, a head kick finished off Tengiz Tedoradze seven seconds after the opening bell.
Overeem, who injured an elbow during training and withdrew from a match last Dec. 4 against “Big Foot’’ Silva, has several notable victories, including a 0:56, first-round submission over all-time great Randy “The Natural” Couture and a 2:19, first-round submission over former STRIKEFORCE Middleweight Champion Renato “Babalu” Sobral. Overeem has only gone the distance twice in a 53-fight career.
A member of Team Golden Glory like his brother, Alistair, Valentijn is a four-time winner in PRIDE Fighting Championship competition. He’ll be making his debut for STRIKEFORCE after signing with the San Jose, Calif.-based promotion last June.
Sefo is one of the most devastating knockout artists in the history of kickboxing and many are excited to see him return to STRIKEFORCE. This will be the native of Auckland, New Zealand’s first MMA start since he defeated (knee injury) Kevin Jordan in his STRIKEFORCE debut during a Challengers event on Sept. 25, 2009.
After turning professional and earning more than a dozen kickboxing championships, Sefo turned his focus to the mecca of kickboxing, K-1, in Japan. While competing under the K-1 banner, Sefo quickly earned a reputation as a power puncher with a penchant for knocking his opponents out. During his time with in K-1, Sefo notched wins over the likes of MMA notables Mark Hunt, Melvin Manhoef, 7-foot-2 Hong Man Choi, Gary Goodridge, Marvin Eastman and Gilbert Yvel along with scores of champion kickboxers.
The 6-foot, 39-year-old Sefo’s level of kickboxing is rarely seen in MMA, yet with just two pro MMA fights in five years he remains a question mark in a heavyweight division regarded as the best in MMA. Sefo, who went undefeated his entire career as an amateur kickboxer, won his MMA debut with a second-round KO (head kick) over Min Soo Kim on July, 6, 2005, in Japan.
A special ticket pre-sale for “STRIKEFORCE Insiders,” begins tomorrow/Wednesday, Jan. 12, at 10 a.m. ET and ends Thursday at 10 p.m. Fans can sign up to become an “Insider” at STRIKEFORCE.com
Tickets for the Feb. 12 mega-event go on sale to the public on Friday, Jan. 14, at 10 a.m. ET at the IZOD Center box office, online at Ticketmaster.com and STRIKEFORCE.com or by phone at (800) 745-3000.
STRIKEFORCE has assembled eight of the world’s top ranked heavyweights to compete in the STRIKEFORCE World Grand Prix – Heavyweight Tournament, a three-stage, single-elimination tournament that will take place over several events in 2011. The first two quarterfinal fights begin on Saturday, Feb. 12, live on SHOWTIME from the IZOD Center in E. Rutherford, N.J. In the main event, the 34-year-old Fedor Emelianenko will face the towering Antonio “Big Foot” Silva (15-2) in a STRIKEFORCE and M-1 GLOBAL co-promoted event. Co-featured on Feb. 12, former world champion Andrei Arlovski (15-8) will face Sergei Kharitonov (17-4), Pride FC and K-1 veteran as well as the last man to defeat current STRIKEFORCE Heavyweight World Champion Alistair “The Demolition Man” Overeem.
Thoughts ?
MAIN CARD
FEDOR EMELIANENKO VS ANTONIO “BIGFOOT” SILVA
32-2-1
230 lbs
6’0″
34
Stary Oskol, Russia RECORD
WEIGHT
HEIGHT
AGE
CITY 15-2
265 lbs
6’4″
31
ParaÃba, Brazil
ANDREI ARLOVSKI VS SERGEI KHARITONOV
15-8
242 lbs
6’4″
31
Chicago, Illinois RECORD
WEIGHT
HEIGHT
AGE
CITY 17-4
250 lbs
6’3″
30
Tula, Russia
CAGE FIGHTER FEDOR MMA WALKOUT WHITE BLAST SHIRT SIZE XX-LARGE
SAT, FEBRUARY 12 10:00 PM/ET
(Prelims at 7:30 PM)
IZOD Center – E. Rutherford, NJ
Tickets go on sale to the public at 10 AM/ET on Friday, January 14th.
Strikeforce Insiders Exclusive Pre-Sale Opportunity:
Wednesday, January 12 at 10 AM/ET until Thursday, January 13 at 10 PM/ET.
ALL HEAVYWEIGHT CARD SET FOR WORLD GRAND PRIX KICKOFF FEB. 12
by Strikeforce
January 11, 2011 Top-Heavy: Shane Del Rosario-Lavar Johnson,
Chad Griggs-Gian Villante, Valentijn Overeem-Ray Sefo
At IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J.
Ticket Pre-Sale Begins Tomorrow/Wednesday
NEW YORK (Dec. 11, 2011) – Six additional hard-hitting heavyweight fighters have been called to action for the STRIKEFORCE and M-1 Global co-promotion and historic kick-off of the STRIKEFORCE World Grand Prix – Heavyweight Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 12, live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J.
The three fights are: Undefeated top prospect Shane Del Rosario (10-0) of Irvine, Calif., vs. hard-hitting Lavar “Big’’ Johnson (15-3) of Madera, Calif., Chad “The Grave Digger’’ Griggs (9-1) of Tucson, Ariz., vs. Gian (pronounced “John”) Villante (7-1) of Bellmore, N.Y., and Valentijn Overeem (28-25) of Amsterdam, Holland, vs. Ray “Sugarfoot’’ Sefo (2-0) of Las Vegas.
“This event will showcase the depth of talent in the STRIKEFORCE heavyweight roster,” said STRIKEFORCE CEO Scott Coker. “Shane and Lavar are two products of the STRIKEFORCE Challengers series that has been instrumental in developing new talent. We are proud to welcome them to our championship series for the first time on Feb. 12 and excited to show the world that STRIKEFORCE is home to the best heavyweights on the planet.”
The all heavyweight main card will be highlighted by two sensational quarterfinal bouts in the single-elimination STRIKEFORCE World Grand Prix – Heavyweight Tournament.
Fedor “The Last Emperor” Emelianenko (31-2, 1 NC), of Stary Oskol, Russia, returns against Brazil’s Antonio “Big Foot” Silva (15-2) of Campina Grande, Paraiba, Brazil in the main event. The co-feature will match former world champion Andrei Arlovski (15-8), of Chicago by way of Minsk, Belarus, against Sergei Kharitonov (16-4) of Moscow, Russia. Kharitonov is the last fighter to defeat STRIKEFORCE Heavyweight World Champion Alistair Overeem.
The promising 6-foot-4, 27-year-old Rosario has won nine of his 10 fights in the opening round, including a 3:38 first-round TKO (knees and punches) over Lolohea Mahe during a STRIKEFORCE Challengers event in his last outing on July 23, 2010, at Everett, Wash. Prior to that, Rosario registered a rare omoplata submission victory over Brandon Cash at 2:27 of the first on Nov. 6, 2009, on STRIKEFORCE Challengers at Fresno, Calif.
“I’m looking forward to fighting again and fighting Lavar on Feb. 12,” said Rosario, a Muay Thai specialist whose longest fight lasted a total of 4:07. “We’ve both fought on Challengers and now we get to show what we can do on a big show. I’m excited about that. This will be a great fight between two hungry fighters.”
The heavy-handed Johnson has been triumphant in seven consecutive fights, winning all by (T)KO, including three straight on Challengers. This will be his third fight since returning to the cage after he was gunned down while attending a family barbeque during the July 4 holiday in 2009. Johnson survived three gunshot wounds from a walk-by shooting that led to the death of his cousin. A father of two boys, Johnson spent 30 days in a hospital fighting for his life and several more months rehabilitating.
“I want to be known as a fighter, not as a guy who got shot, and this is my greatest opportunity to do that,” said the 6-foot-3, 33-year-old who stopped Virgil Zwicker at 2:17 of the first round on Oct. 22, 2010. “I feel like I’m ready to move up to the big stage. Fighting a talented fighter like Rosario is a huge step and, with our records, there is no way this cannot be one of the most exciting fights of the night.”
Thirteen of Johnson’s 15 victories have come via either knockout or TKO.
Griggs, a winner in four consecutive fights, is coming off a bloody, upset second-round TKO (retirement) over former pro wrestling superstar and previously unbeaten MMA fighter, Bobby Lashley, on Aug. 21, 2010, in Houston, on SHOWTIME.
A fulltime Tucson firefighter and paramedic, the 6-foot-1, 32-year-old Griggs opened up a gushing cut over Lashley’s left eye in the first round after getting taken to the ground and ultimately outlasted the previously unbeaten MMA fighter in the second as a still-bleeding Lashley seemed to gas.
The courageous, come-from-behind triumph may have been the most noteworthy for a well-rounded, strong finisher known for quick endings and tricky submissions. Six of Griggs’ victories came in the first round, and he has scored knockouts in eight of his nine victories.
“It was a dream come true to fight for STRIKEFORCE and getting a super win in a big fight like that was huge for me,’’ Griggs said. “I appreciate the opportunity to show what I can do again against another tough opponent.”
Villante is a 6-foot-2, 25-year-old grappling stud who was born and raised on Long Island. Before he wrestled and played football at Hofstra University, he was an All-State football player and All-American wrestler at MacArthur High in Levittown, N.Y.
After trying out with the NFL’s New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles, Villante turned to MMA in late 2008. “I got hooked the first time I went to an MMA fight card and saw one of my high school wrestling coaches KO some guy in a few seconds,” he said. “I was still a senior in high school but I got that feeling that I could maybe do this, and it was always in the back of my mind.
“I knew when my dream to play in the NFL ended that this was what I wanted to do. Now, fighting MMA has become more of a dream than football. I’m extremely excited about fighting for STRIKEFORCE on SHOWTIME. This is a tremendous opportunity and it is like a home game for me.”
Without the benefit of an amateur career, Villante turned pro on Feb. 20, 2009, and won his initial six fights. His lone defeat came when he dislocated an elbow in a bout halted in the opening round on April 16, 2010. Villante is coming off a 1:03, first-round TKO over Joseph Reyes on Dec. 3, 2010. It was his sixth success in the first round.
The older brother of Alistair Overeem, Valentijn Overeem is a fierce, dangerous striker who has won his last two fights in a combined time of 47 seconds. The 6-foot-3, 34-year-old Dutch Destroyer scored a 40-second KO (knee) over Catalin Zmarandescu on May 21, 2010. In his outing before last, the previous April 17, a head kick finished off Tengiz Tedoradze seven seconds after the opening bell.
Overeem, who injured an elbow during training and withdrew from a match last Dec. 4 against “Big Foot’’ Silva, has several notable victories, including a 0:56, first-round submission over all-time great Randy “The Natural” Couture and a 2:19, first-round submission over former STRIKEFORCE Middleweight Champion Renato “Babalu” Sobral. Overeem has only gone the distance twice in a 53-fight career.
A member of Team Golden Glory like his brother, Alistair, Valentijn is a four-time winner in PRIDE Fighting Championship competition. He’ll be making his debut for STRIKEFORCE after signing with the San Jose, Calif.-based promotion last June.
Sefo is one of the most devastating knockout artists in the history of kickboxing and many are excited to see him return to STRIKEFORCE. This will be the native of Auckland, New Zealand’s first MMA start since he defeated (knee injury) Kevin Jordan in his STRIKEFORCE debut during a Challengers event on Sept. 25, 2009.
After turning professional and earning more than a dozen kickboxing championships, Sefo turned his focus to the mecca of kickboxing, K-1, in Japan. While competing under the K-1 banner, Sefo quickly earned a reputation as a power puncher with a penchant for knocking his opponents out. During his time with in K-1, Sefo notched wins over the likes of MMA notables Mark Hunt, Melvin Manhoef, 7-foot-2 Hong Man Choi, Gary Goodridge, Marvin Eastman and Gilbert Yvel along with scores of champion kickboxers.
The 6-foot, 39-year-old Sefo’s level of kickboxing is rarely seen in MMA, yet with just two pro MMA fights in five years he remains a question mark in a heavyweight division regarded as the best in MMA. Sefo, who went undefeated his entire career as an amateur kickboxer, won his MMA debut with a second-round KO (head kick) over Min Soo Kim on July, 6, 2005, in Japan.
A special ticket pre-sale for “STRIKEFORCE Insiders,” begins tomorrow/Wednesday, Jan. 12, at 10 a.m. ET and ends Thursday at 10 p.m. Fans can sign up to become an “Insider” at STRIKEFORCE.com
Tickets for the Feb. 12 mega-event go on sale to the public on Friday, Jan. 14, at 10 a.m. ET at the IZOD Center box office, online at Ticketmaster.com and STRIKEFORCE.com or by phone at (800) 745-3000.
STRIKEFORCE has assembled eight of the world’s top ranked heavyweights to compete in the STRIKEFORCE World Grand Prix – Heavyweight Tournament, a three-stage, single-elimination tournament that will take place over several events in 2011. The first two quarterfinal fights begin on Saturday, Feb. 12, live on SHOWTIME from the IZOD Center in E. Rutherford, N.J. In the main event, the 34-year-old Fedor Emelianenko will face the towering Antonio “Big Foot” Silva (15-2) in a STRIKEFORCE and M-1 GLOBAL co-promoted event. Co-featured on Feb. 12, former world champion Andrei Arlovski (15-8) will face Sergei Kharitonov (17-4), Pride FC and K-1 veteran as well as the last man to defeat current STRIKEFORCE Heavyweight World Champion Alistair “The Demolition Man” Overeem.
Thoughts ?
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
TUFF 13 COACHES ANNOUCED ( BROCK LESNAR VS ?? )
The big men of mixed martial arts are back on The Ultimate Fighter, but this time, they will be coaching, not competing.
UFC President Dana White announced today that former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar and number one contender Junior dos Santos will match wits as the coaches of season 13 of the hit Spike TV reality series.
Following the season, which begins filming later this month and begins airing on March 30, Lesnar and dos Santos will then match fists in the Octagon at a date and location to be announced in June. The winner will face current heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez, who is currently sidelined with a torn rotator cuff.
“It’s gonna be a very interesting six weeks of filming,” said White during a media teleconference Tuesday. “These two will coach, then they’ll fight, and the winner of the fight will fight Cain Velasquez when he’s healthy.”
This will be the first time either fighter has appeared on The Ultimate Fighter, which began airing on Spike in 2005. The last time heavyweights coached the show was during season eight in 2008, when dos Santos’ mentor, “Minotauro” Nogueira, faced off against former champion Frank Mir. This season, the two will coach a host of welterweight hopefuls looking to secure a UFC contract.
One of the biggest success stories of recent years, Brock Lesnar’s rise to the top of the UFC has been well-documented. A former NCAA Division I wrestling champion for the University of Minnesota, Lesnar brought size, speed, and power to the Octagon in 2008, and in only his fourth professional fight, he defeated Randy Couture for the heavyweight crown. After successful defenses against Mir and Shane Carwin, Lesnar lost his belt to Velasquez at UFC 121 last October. Determined to get his championship back, Lesnar knows the quickest way to do so is through dos Santos.
“The guy’s a former world champion, he’s beat guys and held the title,” said White of Lesnar. “No matter what his record is, what the guy has accomplished in the short amount of time that he’s been in MMA is incredible. He’s obviously got a lot that he can teach, and not only him, but the staff that he has around him have a lot to teach young, up and coming guys, and that’s what it’s really all about.”
Unheralded Brazilian prospect Junior dos Santos turned into a contender overnight in 2008 when he knocked out highly-regarded veteran Fabricio Werdum in the first round. This spectacular debut was followed by finishes of Stefan Struve, Mirko Cro Cop, Gilbert Yvel, and Gabriel Gonzaga before earning a shot at the heavyweight title with a three round win over Roy Nelson. Yet instead of choosing to wait for Velasquez to return to action, dos Santos will risk his number one contender’s spot by coaching against - and then fighting - Lesnar later this year.
“Junior dos Santos is a young, up and coming guy,” said White of dos Santos. “He’s been knocking everybody out, comes off a three round war with “Big Country” (Roy Nelson) and I love when guys do that because it’s good for them, it’s good experience, it gets them in better shape and it takes them to another level. And to put this guy on the shelf for a long time is ridiculous, and much credit to him for not wanting to go on the shelf.”
UFC President Dana White announced today that former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar and number one contender Junior dos Santos will match wits as the coaches of season 13 of the hit Spike TV reality series.
Following the season, which begins filming later this month and begins airing on March 30, Lesnar and dos Santos will then match fists in the Octagon at a date and location to be announced in June. The winner will face current heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez, who is currently sidelined with a torn rotator cuff.
“It’s gonna be a very interesting six weeks of filming,” said White during a media teleconference Tuesday. “These two will coach, then they’ll fight, and the winner of the fight will fight Cain Velasquez when he’s healthy.”
This will be the first time either fighter has appeared on The Ultimate Fighter, which began airing on Spike in 2005. The last time heavyweights coached the show was during season eight in 2008, when dos Santos’ mentor, “Minotauro” Nogueira, faced off against former champion Frank Mir. This season, the two will coach a host of welterweight hopefuls looking to secure a UFC contract.
One of the biggest success stories of recent years, Brock Lesnar’s rise to the top of the UFC has been well-documented. A former NCAA Division I wrestling champion for the University of Minnesota, Lesnar brought size, speed, and power to the Octagon in 2008, and in only his fourth professional fight, he defeated Randy Couture for the heavyweight crown. After successful defenses against Mir and Shane Carwin, Lesnar lost his belt to Velasquez at UFC 121 last October. Determined to get his championship back, Lesnar knows the quickest way to do so is through dos Santos.
“The guy’s a former world champion, he’s beat guys and held the title,” said White of Lesnar. “No matter what his record is, what the guy has accomplished in the short amount of time that he’s been in MMA is incredible. He’s obviously got a lot that he can teach, and not only him, but the staff that he has around him have a lot to teach young, up and coming guys, and that’s what it’s really all about.”
Unheralded Brazilian prospect Junior dos Santos turned into a contender overnight in 2008 when he knocked out highly-regarded veteran Fabricio Werdum in the first round. This spectacular debut was followed by finishes of Stefan Struve, Mirko Cro Cop, Gilbert Yvel, and Gabriel Gonzaga before earning a shot at the heavyweight title with a three round win over Roy Nelson. Yet instead of choosing to wait for Velasquez to return to action, dos Santos will risk his number one contender’s spot by coaching against - and then fighting - Lesnar later this year.
“Junior dos Santos is a young, up and coming guy,” said White of dos Santos. “He’s been knocking everybody out, comes off a three round war with “Big Country” (Roy Nelson) and I love when guys do that because it’s good for them, it’s good experience, it gets them in better shape and it takes them to another level. And to put this guy on the shelf for a long time is ridiculous, and much credit to him for not wanting to go on the shelf.”
New MMA fights annouced...
Five fights to help you beat the winter blues
By M. Hendricks
It's that time of year. The time when the holidays are over, the credit card bills are filling your mailbox and the snow has turned from a pretty white blanket to gray slush. What will help you through the long winter? People pummeling each other, of course! Here are five to savor before the vernal equinox on March 20.
Jan. 29, Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Cyborg -- Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza vs. Robbie Lawler: Brawler vs. grappler. Striking vs. submissions. Gritty vs. smooth. This match-up for the Strikeforce middleweight belt matches up different styles of MMA: the heavy hands of Lawler agains the submission genius of Souza. Though Jacare has showed improved stand-up in his last two fights
Feb. 5, UFC 126 -- Miguel Torres vs. Antonio Banuelos: After constantly bringing exciting fights to the WEC, Torres and Banuelos will bring the bantamweight brand to the UFC. There is about 0.0005% chance that this fight will not be exciting. Not to mention, does an epic mustache win out over an epic mullet? We'll find out.
Feb. 12, Strikeforce and M-1 Global -- Fedor Emelianenko vs. Antonio Silva: So many questions will be answered in this bout in New Jersey. How will Fedor rebound from his loss to Fabricio Werdum? Will the long layoff affect him? What will be Fedor's answer to Silva's size? Will the Russian guy who got away from Chrissie Moltisanti and Paulie "Walnuts" be there to cheer on Fedor?
Mar. 5, Strikeforce -- Alistair Overeem vs. Fabricio Werdum: He's made history fighting everywhere but Strikeforce, but will he Overeem able to get past the Fedor-slayer to get through the first round of the Strikeforce heavyweight tournament, defending his belt along the way?
Mar. 19, UFC 128 -- Edson Barboza vs. Anthony Njokuani: My legs hurt just thinking about this bout. Barboza won his UFC debut by piling up leg kicks on Mike Lullo. Njokuani has elbows and head kicks that can end fights. Don't expect this bout to last long or to be boring.
By M. Hendricks
It's that time of year. The time when the holidays are over, the credit card bills are filling your mailbox and the snow has turned from a pretty white blanket to gray slush. What will help you through the long winter? People pummeling each other, of course! Here are five to savor before the vernal equinox on March 20.
Jan. 29, Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Cyborg -- Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza vs. Robbie Lawler: Brawler vs. grappler. Striking vs. submissions. Gritty vs. smooth. This match-up for the Strikeforce middleweight belt matches up different styles of MMA: the heavy hands of Lawler agains the submission genius of Souza. Though Jacare has showed improved stand-up in his last two fights
Feb. 5, UFC 126 -- Miguel Torres vs. Antonio Banuelos: After constantly bringing exciting fights to the WEC, Torres and Banuelos will bring the bantamweight brand to the UFC. There is about 0.0005% chance that this fight will not be exciting. Not to mention, does an epic mustache win out over an epic mullet? We'll find out.
Feb. 12, Strikeforce and M-1 Global -- Fedor Emelianenko vs. Antonio Silva: So many questions will be answered in this bout in New Jersey. How will Fedor rebound from his loss to Fabricio Werdum? Will the long layoff affect him? What will be Fedor's answer to Silva's size? Will the Russian guy who got away from Chrissie Moltisanti and Paulie "Walnuts" be there to cheer on Fedor?
Mar. 5, Strikeforce -- Alistair Overeem vs. Fabricio Werdum: He's made history fighting everywhere but Strikeforce, but will he Overeem able to get past the Fedor-slayer to get through the first round of the Strikeforce heavyweight tournament, defending his belt along the way?
Mar. 19, UFC 128 -- Edson Barboza vs. Anthony Njokuani: My legs hurt just thinking about this bout. Barboza won his UFC debut by piling up leg kicks on Mike Lullo. Njokuani has elbows and head kicks that can end fights. Don't expect this bout to last long or to be boring.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
UFC 128 official for March 19 in New Jersey with Rua vs. Evans, Faber vs. Wineland
UFC 128 official for March 19 in New Jersey with Rua vs. Evans, Faber vs. Wineland
As expected, the world largest mixed martial arts promotion heads to the Garden State on March 19 for "UFC 128: Shogun vs. Evans."
Featuring a long-awated light heavyweight title clash between current champ Mauricio "Shogun" Rua and former title holder Rashad Evans, UFC 128 takes place at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
"This is the light heavyweight title fight that everyone has been waiting to see," UFC president Dana White stated in today's official release. "'Shogun' has been on an absolute tear and proved that by knocking out Lyoto Machida to take the belt. Now he faces Rashad Evans, who is coming off back-to-back wins over Thiago Silva and 'Rampage' Jackson and has never been hungrier to reclaim the title.
"With the main event and the other fights we're putting together, we're bringing another awesome card to New Jersey, and I'm excited to get back to the East Coast."
Rua (19-4 MMA, 3-2 UFC), a longtime star with the now-defunct PRIDE Fighting Championships, is 3-1 since his promotional-debut loss to Forrest Griffin. The lone defeat came to Lyoto Machida in their first meeting, and many in the industry panned the unanimous decision and felt Rua won the fight. Seven months later in the rematch, he needed less than a round to score a knockout and win the belt from his fellow Brazilian.
Evans (15-1-1 MMA, 10-1-1 UFC) earned another shot at the title with a May win over rival Quinton "Rampage" Jackson in the main event of UFC 114. Although he said he'd be open to an interim-title fight if Rua were to experience a lengthy layoff while recovering from knee surgery, he later said he'd prefer to wait for the champion. Evans, who also has defeated Thiago Silva since losing his belt, will have a yearlong layoff while waiting for his shot to reclaim the title.
In addition to the main event, UFC brass also officially announced the previously reported clash between former WEC champions Urijah Faber and Eddie Wineland.
The bantamweight bout marks the UFC debut of Faber (24-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC) and Wineland (18-6-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC), who were both victorious in their final obligations to the WEC before the promotion officially ceded its talent to the industry leader.
Faber met former contender Takeya Mizugaki at WEC 52 in his first bout as a bantamweight and cinched a first-round rear-naked choke that won him "Submission of the Night" honors.
Wineland slammed his way out of the WEC in the promotion's final event, WEC 53. Newcomer Ken Stone made the unwise move of pulling a standing guard on the Indiana native in the first round of their preliminary-card meeting and found himself violently introduced to the canvas and knocked out.
The sensational finish capped off a four-fight streak for Wineland, who became the first WEC bantamweight champion when he knocked out Antonio Banuelos for the belt at WEC 20. (He subsequently lost the strap to Chase Beebe when he returned the next year to the Zuffa-owned promotion.)
Tickets for UFC 128, which range in price from $60 to $500, go on sale Thursday, Jan. 13, at Ticketmaster.com.
The latest UFC 128 card includes:
•Champ Mauricio "Shogun" Rua vs. Rashad Evans (for light-heavyweight title)
•Urijah Faber vs. Eddie Wineland
•Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Chael Sonnen*•Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic vs. Brendan Schaub*•Jim Miller vs. Kamal Shalorus*•Ricardo Almeida vs. Mike Pyle*•Kurt Pellegrino vs. Gleison Tibau*•Edson Barboza vs. Anthony Njokuani*•Luiz Cane vs. Karlos Vemola*
As expected, the world largest mixed martial arts promotion heads to the Garden State on March 19 for "UFC 128: Shogun vs. Evans."
Featuring a long-awated light heavyweight title clash between current champ Mauricio "Shogun" Rua and former title holder Rashad Evans, UFC 128 takes place at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
"This is the light heavyweight title fight that everyone has been waiting to see," UFC president Dana White stated in today's official release. "'Shogun' has been on an absolute tear and proved that by knocking out Lyoto Machida to take the belt. Now he faces Rashad Evans, who is coming off back-to-back wins over Thiago Silva and 'Rampage' Jackson and has never been hungrier to reclaim the title.
"With the main event and the other fights we're putting together, we're bringing another awesome card to New Jersey, and I'm excited to get back to the East Coast."
Rua (19-4 MMA, 3-2 UFC), a longtime star with the now-defunct PRIDE Fighting Championships, is 3-1 since his promotional-debut loss to Forrest Griffin. The lone defeat came to Lyoto Machida in their first meeting, and many in the industry panned the unanimous decision and felt Rua won the fight. Seven months later in the rematch, he needed less than a round to score a knockout and win the belt from his fellow Brazilian.
Evans (15-1-1 MMA, 10-1-1 UFC) earned another shot at the title with a May win over rival Quinton "Rampage" Jackson in the main event of UFC 114. Although he said he'd be open to an interim-title fight if Rua were to experience a lengthy layoff while recovering from knee surgery, he later said he'd prefer to wait for the champion. Evans, who also has defeated Thiago Silva since losing his belt, will have a yearlong layoff while waiting for his shot to reclaim the title.
In addition to the main event, UFC brass also officially announced the previously reported clash between former WEC champions Urijah Faber and Eddie Wineland.
The bantamweight bout marks the UFC debut of Faber (24-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC) and Wineland (18-6-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC), who were both victorious in their final obligations to the WEC before the promotion officially ceded its talent to the industry leader.
Faber met former contender Takeya Mizugaki at WEC 52 in his first bout as a bantamweight and cinched a first-round rear-naked choke that won him "Submission of the Night" honors.
Wineland slammed his way out of the WEC in the promotion's final event, WEC 53. Newcomer Ken Stone made the unwise move of pulling a standing guard on the Indiana native in the first round of their preliminary-card meeting and found himself violently introduced to the canvas and knocked out.
The sensational finish capped off a four-fight streak for Wineland, who became the first WEC bantamweight champion when he knocked out Antonio Banuelos for the belt at WEC 20. (He subsequently lost the strap to Chase Beebe when he returned the next year to the Zuffa-owned promotion.)
Tickets for UFC 128, which range in price from $60 to $500, go on sale Thursday, Jan. 13, at Ticketmaster.com.
The latest UFC 128 card includes:
•Champ Mauricio "Shogun" Rua vs. Rashad Evans (for light-heavyweight title)
•Urijah Faber vs. Eddie Wineland
•Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Chael Sonnen*•Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic vs. Brendan Schaub*•Jim Miller vs. Kamal Shalorus*•Ricardo Almeida vs. Mike Pyle*•Kurt Pellegrino vs. Gleison Tibau*•Edson Barboza vs. Anthony Njokuani*•Luiz Cane vs. Karlos Vemola*
Monday, January 3, 2011
Top 10 Ten UFC MMA Fighters in 2010
This is it – the Highly Unofficial 2010 awards season is just about done, and all that’s left is to determine the top fighters of the year. Will your favorite be here? Read on to find out.
10 (tie) – Rick Story
All right, I know, I’m being indecisive, but when it came to the tail end of the list, I just couldn’t pick two fighters out of the trio of Chris Leben, Evan Dunham, and Rick Story to leave out. One (Story) went 4-0 this year, which is an amazing feat. The second (Dunham) lost a fight, but that one fight he lost he probably should have won on the scorecards. And the third (Leben) won three big fights, but the first was over a fighter (Jay Silva) who can’t be considered on the level of his other two victims. So…a three way tie, and I’m sticking to it. Anyway, Rick Story has always been a tough kid with a lot of potential. In 2010, he started to break through to the next level with two close wins over Jesse Lennox and Nick Osipczak, a brutal TKO of Dustin Hazelett, and a gut check decision victory over Johny Hendricks. Story is the real deal, and he’s only going to get better.
10 (tie) – Evan Dunham
Unheralded lightweight Evan Dunham quietly made a name for himself in the UFC in 2009 with wins over Per Eklund and Marcus Aurelio, but in 2010 he moved from prospect to contender with an impressive come from behind finish of Efrain Escudero and a clear-cut decision win over Tyson Griffin. Next up for the Las Vegas resident was former UFC lightweight champion Sean Sherk at UFC 119, and Dunham not only showed his talent against “The Muscle Shark”, but he showed his heart and grit in battling back from a nasty cut over his eye to arguably win a fight which ultimately went to Sherk via a controversial split decision.
10 (tie) - Chris Leben
Entering 2010, Chris Leben’s UFC career was on the line after back-to-back losses to Michael Bisping and Jake Rosholt, but amazingly, by the time he forced Yoshihiro Akiyama to tap out in the third round of their UFC 116 bout in July, he was back among the ranks of middleweight contenders. This amazing transformation took place thanks to wins this year over Jay Silva, Aaron Simpson, and the aforementioned Akiyama, with the latter two victories occurring within a two week period. Next up for the resurgent “Crippler” is a January 1st date with Brian Stann.
9 – Rashad Evans
Following the loss of his UFC light heavyweight title via knockout to Lyoto Machida in May of 2009, fight fans were wondering how Rashad Evans was going to react in his next bout. Well, in January he decisioned Thiago Silva, going back to his wrestling roots and surviving a late sequence when Silva got him in trouble. And four months later he headlined another major event when he took on – and beat – bitter rival Quinton “Rampage” Jackson with another solid wrestling-based victory at UFC 114 in May. Some would say “Suga” is back, but in reality, he never left, and in 2011 he will be rewarded with a shot at light heavyweight boss Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.
8 – Yushin Okami
Long seen as the forgotten man in the middleweight division, Japan’s Yushin Okami always seemed to be one win away from the big one when he would slip back into the shadows after key losses to Rich Franklin and Chael Sonnen. But in 2010, “Thunder” put it all together. First it was an impressive stoppage of Lucio Linhares in March, then a decision win over Mark Munoz in August, and in November, Okami capped things off with a decision victory over Nate Marquardt that earned him a middleweight championship fight. And while he’s not always the most exciting 185-pounder, he’s definitely one of the toughest to beat.
7 – Jim Miller
Speaking of tough to beat, the only fighters to ever pin a loss on New Jersey’s Jim Miller have been a couple of pretty fair lightweights named Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard. In the UFC, Miller is 8-1, including six in a row, and it was in 2010 that the rest of the world got on the bandwagon, as the fierce, yet soft-spoken, competitor went 4-0 with wins over Duane Ludwig, Mark Bocek, Gleison Tibau, and Charles Oliveira. And after beating Oliveira via submission at UFC 124, Miller finally spoke up, asking for his shot in 2011. It’s hard to argue with him.
6 - Junior dos Santos
Just 26, Brazil’s Junior dos Santos continued his whirlwind ride through the heavyweight division in 2010, knocking out veterans Gilbert Yvel and Gabriel Gonzaga with relative ease before a three round gut check against Roy “Big Country” Nelson in August at UFC 117. It wasn’t a fight where dos Santos was really threatened, but after hitting his foe with everything in his arsenal, he was forced to show the ability to go three fast-paced rounds with a dangerous opponent while growing increasingly fatigued. It wasn’t the same as his previous foray into the third frame against Mirko Cro Cop, yet he still came out of the fight victorious and with practically everyone in agreement that when he gets his shot at the heavyweight crown in 2011, it’s going to be something to remember.
5 – Georges St-Pierre
With back-to-back shutouts of top contenders Dan Hardy and Josh Koscheck, UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre continues to make it look easy at the elite level of the game. Beating these guys is a feat in itself, but to take the drama out of the fights as early as the first round is nothing short of amazing. Next in line for St-Pierre is an interesting style matchup against Jake Shields, but considering that he hasn’t lost a round in over three years, it’s hard – if not impossible – to pick against the champion in any fight at 170 pounds.
4 – George Sotiropoulos
Winner of eight straight (seven in the UFC) dating back to late 2006, Australia native George Sotiropoulos is another fighter who had his coming out party this year, as he dismantled a formidable trio of Joe Stevenson, Kurt Pellegrino, and Joe Lauzon, putting him squarely in the lightweight title picture. And with his improved all-around game, Octagon vision, and quiet intensity, he’s going to be a nightmare matchup for anyone at 155 pounds, including his February 2011 foe, Dennis Siver.
3 – Mauricio Rua
It’s never hard for a fighter to get up for a world title fight. When you lose a controversial decision many think you won, it has to be difficult to go through the physical and mental trials necessary to do it all over again. But Mauricio Rua did it. And not only that, but in his championship rematch against Lyoto Machida in May, he scored the defining win of his career via first round knockout. What made the victory sweeter was the journey it took to get there. From a loss in his UFC debut to Forrest Griffin to two knee surgeries, Rua got to the top in the Octagon the hard way, and even though he has been sidelined since the bout due to injury, he is rehabbed, healthy and ready to go for an early-2011 title defense against Rashad Evans.
2 – Cain Velasquez
It seemed like Cain Velasquez was being groomed for the heavyweight title from the first time he put on the gloves, but in most situations like that, the reality falls far short of expectations. Not here, and in 2010, after working his way up the ranks, Velasquez fulfilled all his promise, first with a knockout of heavyweight legend “Minotauro” Nogueira in February, and then with a TKO of Brock Lesnar in October that earned him the title “World Champion.” What’s scary about Velasquez is that he probably hasn’t reached his peak yet and that he won’t stop working until he gets there. Of course, in this sport all it takes is one punch to derail anyone, but it’s looking like Velasquez may stay on top for a while should he get past Junior dos Santos in 2011.
1 – Frankie Edgar
Rightfully deserving of a lightweight title shot, Frankie Edgar still wasn’t considered likely to be the one to defeat the seemingly unstoppable 155-pound king, BJ Penn. Edgar and his team just ignored the odds, put together an intense training camp and fight plan, and walked into Abu Dhabi in April with one goal in mind – to win the belt. And after five close rounds, it was Edgar who shocked the world and took the title from “The Prodigy” behind a disciplined 25 minute attack.
It was the ‘feel good’ story of the year, but it didn’t keep Edgar from the underdog position once again for the August rematch with Penn. But again, the pride of Toms River ignored the talk, and again, he beat Penn via five round decision at UFC 118. Only this time, there were no questions and no close rounds. And when Penn bounced back from the two defeats to knock out Matt Hughes in 21 seconds at UFC 123, it not only showed that Penn still had plenty left in his gas tank, but that Frankie Edgar didn’t beat a shell of a fighter twice – he beat a prime BJ Penn. Will he be an underdog again in the future? Probably. But given his 2010 performance, you get the idea that he doesn’t really care.
Honorable Mention: Anderson Silva, Carlos Condit, Nate Diaz, Chris Lytle, Jon Jones, Gray Maynard, Melvin Guillard, Brendan Schaub, Matt Hamill, Ryan Bader, Randy Couture, Chael Sonnen, CB Dollaway, Kyle Noke, Court McGee, Jake Ellenberger
10 (tie) – Rick Story
All right, I know, I’m being indecisive, but when it came to the tail end of the list, I just couldn’t pick two fighters out of the trio of Chris Leben, Evan Dunham, and Rick Story to leave out. One (Story) went 4-0 this year, which is an amazing feat. The second (Dunham) lost a fight, but that one fight he lost he probably should have won on the scorecards. And the third (Leben) won three big fights, but the first was over a fighter (Jay Silva) who can’t be considered on the level of his other two victims. So…a three way tie, and I’m sticking to it. Anyway, Rick Story has always been a tough kid with a lot of potential. In 2010, he started to break through to the next level with two close wins over Jesse Lennox and Nick Osipczak, a brutal TKO of Dustin Hazelett, and a gut check decision victory over Johny Hendricks. Story is the real deal, and he’s only going to get better.
10 (tie) – Evan Dunham
Unheralded lightweight Evan Dunham quietly made a name for himself in the UFC in 2009 with wins over Per Eklund and Marcus Aurelio, but in 2010 he moved from prospect to contender with an impressive come from behind finish of Efrain Escudero and a clear-cut decision win over Tyson Griffin. Next up for the Las Vegas resident was former UFC lightweight champion Sean Sherk at UFC 119, and Dunham not only showed his talent against “The Muscle Shark”, but he showed his heart and grit in battling back from a nasty cut over his eye to arguably win a fight which ultimately went to Sherk via a controversial split decision.
10 (tie) - Chris Leben
Entering 2010, Chris Leben’s UFC career was on the line after back-to-back losses to Michael Bisping and Jake Rosholt, but amazingly, by the time he forced Yoshihiro Akiyama to tap out in the third round of their UFC 116 bout in July, he was back among the ranks of middleweight contenders. This amazing transformation took place thanks to wins this year over Jay Silva, Aaron Simpson, and the aforementioned Akiyama, with the latter two victories occurring within a two week period. Next up for the resurgent “Crippler” is a January 1st date with Brian Stann.
9 – Rashad Evans
Following the loss of his UFC light heavyweight title via knockout to Lyoto Machida in May of 2009, fight fans were wondering how Rashad Evans was going to react in his next bout. Well, in January he decisioned Thiago Silva, going back to his wrestling roots and surviving a late sequence when Silva got him in trouble. And four months later he headlined another major event when he took on – and beat – bitter rival Quinton “Rampage” Jackson with another solid wrestling-based victory at UFC 114 in May. Some would say “Suga” is back, but in reality, he never left, and in 2011 he will be rewarded with a shot at light heavyweight boss Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.
8 – Yushin Okami
Long seen as the forgotten man in the middleweight division, Japan’s Yushin Okami always seemed to be one win away from the big one when he would slip back into the shadows after key losses to Rich Franklin and Chael Sonnen. But in 2010, “Thunder” put it all together. First it was an impressive stoppage of Lucio Linhares in March, then a decision win over Mark Munoz in August, and in November, Okami capped things off with a decision victory over Nate Marquardt that earned him a middleweight championship fight. And while he’s not always the most exciting 185-pounder, he’s definitely one of the toughest to beat.
7 – Jim Miller
Speaking of tough to beat, the only fighters to ever pin a loss on New Jersey’s Jim Miller have been a couple of pretty fair lightweights named Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard. In the UFC, Miller is 8-1, including six in a row, and it was in 2010 that the rest of the world got on the bandwagon, as the fierce, yet soft-spoken, competitor went 4-0 with wins over Duane Ludwig, Mark Bocek, Gleison Tibau, and Charles Oliveira. And after beating Oliveira via submission at UFC 124, Miller finally spoke up, asking for his shot in 2011. It’s hard to argue with him.
6 - Junior dos Santos
Just 26, Brazil’s Junior dos Santos continued his whirlwind ride through the heavyweight division in 2010, knocking out veterans Gilbert Yvel and Gabriel Gonzaga with relative ease before a three round gut check against Roy “Big Country” Nelson in August at UFC 117. It wasn’t a fight where dos Santos was really threatened, but after hitting his foe with everything in his arsenal, he was forced to show the ability to go three fast-paced rounds with a dangerous opponent while growing increasingly fatigued. It wasn’t the same as his previous foray into the third frame against Mirko Cro Cop, yet he still came out of the fight victorious and with practically everyone in agreement that when he gets his shot at the heavyweight crown in 2011, it’s going to be something to remember.
5 – Georges St-Pierre
With back-to-back shutouts of top contenders Dan Hardy and Josh Koscheck, UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre continues to make it look easy at the elite level of the game. Beating these guys is a feat in itself, but to take the drama out of the fights as early as the first round is nothing short of amazing. Next in line for St-Pierre is an interesting style matchup against Jake Shields, but considering that he hasn’t lost a round in over three years, it’s hard – if not impossible – to pick against the champion in any fight at 170 pounds.
4 – George Sotiropoulos
Winner of eight straight (seven in the UFC) dating back to late 2006, Australia native George Sotiropoulos is another fighter who had his coming out party this year, as he dismantled a formidable trio of Joe Stevenson, Kurt Pellegrino, and Joe Lauzon, putting him squarely in the lightweight title picture. And with his improved all-around game, Octagon vision, and quiet intensity, he’s going to be a nightmare matchup for anyone at 155 pounds, including his February 2011 foe, Dennis Siver.
3 – Mauricio Rua
It’s never hard for a fighter to get up for a world title fight. When you lose a controversial decision many think you won, it has to be difficult to go through the physical and mental trials necessary to do it all over again. But Mauricio Rua did it. And not only that, but in his championship rematch against Lyoto Machida in May, he scored the defining win of his career via first round knockout. What made the victory sweeter was the journey it took to get there. From a loss in his UFC debut to Forrest Griffin to two knee surgeries, Rua got to the top in the Octagon the hard way, and even though he has been sidelined since the bout due to injury, he is rehabbed, healthy and ready to go for an early-2011 title defense against Rashad Evans.
2 – Cain Velasquez
It seemed like Cain Velasquez was being groomed for the heavyweight title from the first time he put on the gloves, but in most situations like that, the reality falls far short of expectations. Not here, and in 2010, after working his way up the ranks, Velasquez fulfilled all his promise, first with a knockout of heavyweight legend “Minotauro” Nogueira in February, and then with a TKO of Brock Lesnar in October that earned him the title “World Champion.” What’s scary about Velasquez is that he probably hasn’t reached his peak yet and that he won’t stop working until he gets there. Of course, in this sport all it takes is one punch to derail anyone, but it’s looking like Velasquez may stay on top for a while should he get past Junior dos Santos in 2011.
1 – Frankie Edgar
Rightfully deserving of a lightweight title shot, Frankie Edgar still wasn’t considered likely to be the one to defeat the seemingly unstoppable 155-pound king, BJ Penn. Edgar and his team just ignored the odds, put together an intense training camp and fight plan, and walked into Abu Dhabi in April with one goal in mind – to win the belt. And after five close rounds, it was Edgar who shocked the world and took the title from “The Prodigy” behind a disciplined 25 minute attack.
It was the ‘feel good’ story of the year, but it didn’t keep Edgar from the underdog position once again for the August rematch with Penn. But again, the pride of Toms River ignored the talk, and again, he beat Penn via five round decision at UFC 118. Only this time, there were no questions and no close rounds. And when Penn bounced back from the two defeats to knock out Matt Hughes in 21 seconds at UFC 123, it not only showed that Penn still had plenty left in his gas tank, but that Frankie Edgar didn’t beat a shell of a fighter twice – he beat a prime BJ Penn. Will he be an underdog again in the future? Probably. But given his 2010 performance, you get the idea that he doesn’t really care.
Honorable Mention: Anderson Silva, Carlos Condit, Nate Diaz, Chris Lytle, Jon Jones, Gray Maynard, Melvin Guillard, Brendan Schaub, Matt Hamill, Ryan Bader, Randy Couture, Chael Sonnen, CB Dollaway, Kyle Noke, Court McGee, Jake Ellenberger
Sunday, January 2, 2011
MMA major events schedule
MMA major events schedule
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Friday, Jan. 7
Strikeforce Challengers: Tyron Woodley vs. Tarec Saffedine, Municipal Auditorium, Nashville, Showtime
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Saturday, Jan. 22
UFC Fight for the Troops 2: Kenny Florian vs. Evan Dunham, Ft. Hood, Texas, Spike TV
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Saturday, Jan. 29
Strikeforce: Nick Diaz vs. Evangelista Santos, HP Pavilion, San Jose, Calif. Showtime.
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Saturday, Feb 6
UFC 126: Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort, Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, PPV
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Saturday, Feb 27
MMA Mastery: Ground and Pound (MMA Mastery series)
UFC 127: B.J. Penn vs. Jon Fitch, Acer Arena, Sydney, Australia, PPV
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Friday, Jan. 7
Strikeforce Challengers: Tyron Woodley vs. Tarec Saffedine, Municipal Auditorium, Nashville, Showtime
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, Jan. 22
UFC Fight for the Troops 2: Kenny Florian vs. Evan Dunham, Ft. Hood, Texas, Spike TV
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, Jan. 29
Strikeforce: Nick Diaz vs. Evangelista Santos, HP Pavilion, San Jose, Calif. Showtime.
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Saturday, Feb 6
UFC 126: Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort, Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, PPV
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, Feb 27
MMA Mastery: Ground and Pound (MMA Mastery series)
UFC 127: B.J. Penn vs. Jon Fitch, Acer Arena, Sydney, Australia, PPV
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