Showing posts with label Dan Henderson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dan Henderson. Show all posts
Monday, August 3, 2015
#danHenderson #tweet Who will #fedor fight first? Thoughts on him signing with Scott Coker? #Bellator
#danHenderson #tweet Who will #fedor fight first? Thoughts on him signing with Scott Coker? #Bellator 
Friday, June 14, 2013
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Watch the greatest fight of all time ? Dan Henderson vs. Mauricio Shogun Rua - UFC 139
Dan Henderson vs. Mauricio Shogun Rua - UFC 139 - Part 2 | |
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 | Dan Hendo Henderson vs. Mauricio Shogun Rua UFC 139 November 19, 2011 HP Pavillion, San Jose, California, United States |
| Playlist: UFC 139 - Shogun vs. Henderson (more videos) Just one week ago, lightweights Ben Henderson and Clay Guida had a fight that was called a potential fight of the year at the UFC on Fox event in Anaheim, Calif. Seven days later, it may not even be in the running. Dan Henderson, no relation to Ben, faced Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in what turned out to be the first full five- round non-title fight in UFC history on Saturday night at the HP Pavilion. The two entered the arena to face a crowd that figured to be hard to please, considering they followed a Wanderlei Silva vs. Cung Le brawl that tore the house down. “It was one of the three best mixed martial arts matches of all time,” said UFC president Dana White afterward. “It was better than [Forrest] Griffin and [Stephan] Bonnar. Those were two guys battling to get into the UFC. It was a great fight for our first time on Spike.” Yahoo! Sports gave Rounds 1 through 3 to Henderson and Rounds 4 and 5 to Rua, with the fifth round scored 10-8 for a 47-47 draw. White said he also scored the final round 10-8 and had the fight a draw, but he added that in a fight like that, he would have been fine with either man winning or a draw decision. “I thought ‘Shogun’ was out during the first round,” White said. “I didn’t think he was going to make it past the first. It went five rounds and he had the most dominant round of the fight.” Over the summer, White made the decision that main events of fight cards without a title match would be moved from three rounds to five. The first of these bouts was held two weeks ago, the Chris Leben vs. Mark Munoz fight in Birmingham, England, but that fight only went two rounds before Munoz won. Henderson-Rua marked the first time a non-title main event went the five-round distance. While the fight would have been very good if it had ended after three, the decision would not have been in question. The final two rounds not only added to the drama but also led to debate about the decision. “Yeah, I hit him hard; I should have had him finished there,” Henderson said. “The gas tank was running a little low. It started out strong for me. He stayed in there like a champion should and he finished strong.” Henderson felt he was safe in the fifth round as long as Rua didn’t finish the fight, feeling he solidly won the first three rounds and could have gotten at least one 10-8 round. “ ‘Shogun’ came back and dropped Dan in the first round,” White said. “It was a war. I thought by the end of the second round Dan Henderson was breathing so hard, I thought it was done, and they went five rounds.”Going into the bout, there had been talk that if Henderson won, he would drop back down to 185 pounds to face Anderson Silva in a match that White had attempted to make back in 2009, a rematch of a bout Silva won the year before. But right now Chael Sonnen appears next in line for Silva. “All I can say is that guy can take a [expletive] punch,” Henderson said during his post-fight interview in the Octagon. “I hit him hard. I thought I could finish him in the first or second round. I thought I had the first three rounds easy.” The one fighter at UFC 139 who assured himself of a title match was Urijah Faber, who finished former WEC bantamweight champion Brian Bowles at 1:47 of the second round. Faber will face Dominick Cruz for the bantamweight title at some point in the future. “Hopefully I have some different judges,” Faber said, referring to the decision he dropped to Cruz in their July bout. “I know it was a close fight, and I don’t want to raise a stink and say I got robbed in a fight like that. That’s not fair to the people who really have gotten robbed in fights. But I don’t feel he’s a better fighter than I am. I don’t think he proved it. “He tried to take me down 11 or 12 times,” Faber continued. “I dropped him three times with my hands. I think I did some good things. I think maybe you need more output if you go to a decision. But I don’t want to think about going to the decision. I’m looking to finish him. It’s for the UFC title. It’s a personal vendetta. We’re 1-1, a trilogy, it’s a fight to find out who the man is for the rest of our lives.” Going in, the co-main event between Silva and Le was the bout that seemed to have the most crowd interest in San Jose. Le (7-2) was the hometown favorite but got something of a mixed reaction. Silva’s reaction was louder. There were two distinct crowd bases. There were the San Jose area residents and fans from the days where Strikeforce packed the arena who had seen Le as one of the architects in building the local MMA scene. And there was the traveling UFC fan base, who saw Le as a fighter from a rival company and Silva as a legend of the sport. The loud mixed reaction made for a memorable backdrop to the bout. | |
Watch best fight of the year Dan Henderson vs. Mauricio Rua UFC 139 video free
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Saturday, November 12, 2011
UFC on Fox 1 Main Event Weigh-in Velasquez vs Dos Santos and Guida vs Henderson Weigh-ins
UFC on Fox 1 Main Event Weigh-in Velasquez vs Dos Santos and Guida vs Henderson Weigh-ins
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Sunday, July 31, 2011
Dan Henderson vs Fedor Emelianenko watch Full Fight video free
Robbie Lawler vs Tim Kennedy full fight
![Dan Henderson Stops Fedor Emelianenko - Strikeforce [Small]](http://i51.tinypic.com/33ti835.gif)
Friday, July 29, 2011
Strikeforce: video Fedor vs. Henderson Weigh-In Results
Official Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson Weigh-In Results
Main Event
265 lbs.: Dan Henderson (207) vs. Fedor Emelianenko (223)
Main Card
135 lbs.: Marloes Coenen (135) vs. Miesha Tate (135)
185 lbs.: Tim Kennedy (185) vs. Robbie Lawler (185)
170 lbs.: Paul Daley (171) vs. Tyron Woodley (170)
170 lbs.: Tarec Saffiedine (170) vs. Scott Smith (171)
Preliminary Card
155 lbs.: Gesias Cavalcante (155) vs. Bobby Green (155)
170 lbs.: Eduardo Pamplona (170) vs. Tyler Stinson (171)
135 lbs.: Alexis Davis (136) vs. Julie Kedzie (135)
185 lbs.: Derek Brunson (186) vs. Lumumba Sayers (184)
265 lbs.: Bryan Humes (266) vs. Gabriel Salinas-Jones (260)
Main Event
265 lbs.: Dan Henderson (207) vs. Fedor Emelianenko (223)
Main Card
135 lbs.: Marloes Coenen (135) vs. Miesha Tate (135)
185 lbs.: Tim Kennedy (185) vs. Robbie Lawler (185)
170 lbs.: Paul Daley (171) vs. Tyron Woodley (170)
170 lbs.: Tarec Saffiedine (170) vs. Scott Smith (171)
Preliminary Card
155 lbs.: Gesias Cavalcante (155) vs. Bobby Green (155)
170 lbs.: Eduardo Pamplona (170) vs. Tyler Stinson (171)
135 lbs.: Alexis Davis (136) vs. Julie Kedzie (135)
185 lbs.: Derek Brunson (186) vs. Lumumba Sayers (184)
265 lbs.: Bryan Humes (266) vs. Gabriel Salinas-Jones (260)
Monday, March 14, 2011
Top Strikeforce fighters join UFC ?
This afternoon, Dana White announced that Zuffa bought its top competitor in the U.S. He made a point of saying, with fighters contracts and a Showtime television deal in place, Strikeforce will operate under a "business as usual" header for the time being. How long that lasts is anyone's guess. UFC is planning on revealing more details to the media during a Monday teleconference.Form Athletics White Jon ''Bones'' Jones Fight Premuim T-shirt (X-Large)
The purchase should certainly excite fight fans. A deeper overall roster should eliminate the possibility of the best in the world being kept out of the same cage because of promotional issues.
Who are you most excited to see in the UFC? Here's a list of the top 15 fighters based on ability, mixed with the existing hurdles that could prevent them for stepping into the Octagon.
1. Nick Diaz, Welterweight (23-7, 5-0 Strikeforce, 6-4 UFC)
Outside the cage, the former UFC fighter is a wild man, but White is the first to admit he's a talented kid. The current Strikeforce welterweight champion hasn't lost since 2007. He's also one of the only welterweights outside of the UFC that fans would love to see take on Georges St. Pierre. In less than a month at Strikeforce's next scheduled event in San Diego on Apr. 9, he defends his title against Paul Daley. His brother Nate is currently fighting at 170 pounds in the UFC.
2. Gilbert Melendez, Lightweight (18-2, 8-1 Strikeforce)
He wasn't the first name on the lips of many MMA fans, but he probably should be. He's the most legitimate threat to any of the UFC title holders. Melendez's mix of wrestling, striking, strategy and stamina puts him immediately in the mix with Gray Maynard and Anthony Pettis to challenge for Frank Edgar's title. Just as important, he wants to fight the best and is an easy guy to manage.
3. Dan Henderson. Light heavyweight (27-8, Strikeforce 2-1, UFC 5-2)
With just one fight left on his deal, Henderson could be the first Strikeforce star to crossover. His 2009 exit from the UFC was more about ancillary concerns than his performance in the cage.
With his win last weekend over Strikeforce light heavyweight champ Rafael Cavalcante, the 40-year-old proved again that he's a top 10 fighter at light heavyweight. He could also go back down to middleweight if he wants to and the UFC thought that was the best spot.
Henderson told MMAWeekly it's a shocking move, but he's open to fighting for anyone.
"I don't know what to feel about it, I don't necessarily think, it might not be the best thing for the sport. But then again you're going to start being able to see all these match-ups that everyone wants to see. Who knows," Henderson said. "I had no plans of leaving, but I don't know what this is going to do those plans, but I have one fight left on my deal and we'll see what happens,"
Henderson is cool with White.
"I've never said anything bad about them. I always appreciated everything they've done for me and for the sport. It's just I was paid more money to go elsewhere, and that's what I did. Dana's the type that needs to talk a little smack if he doesn't get his way, but I've got no hard feelings about anything."
Strikeforce paid Hendo a healthy salary and allowed him to promote his clothing line, Clinch Gear. Hopefully, this time around the Clinch Gear issue can be resolved so we can see Henderson face the likes of Mauricio Rua, Rashad Evans, Quinton Jackson, Jon Jones and Lyoto Machida.
4. Alistair Overeem, Heavyweight (34-11, 3-0 Strikeforce)
If everything is cool on the pre-fight drug testing front, Overeem would be an awesome addition to the UFC heavyweight division. His pure power, look and striking is very promotable. An Overeem fight against Cain Velasquez, Brock Lesnar, Junior dos Santos, Frank Mir or Shane Carwin would be a seat-filler. That said, he'll have to drop the desire to compete in K-1 competitions.
5. Antonio Silva, Heavyweight (16-2, 3-1 Strikeforce)
This seems high, right? That's how good Silva is now and can be down the road. "Big Foot" is one of the biggest heavyweights in the world and is quickly developing one of the more well-rounded games in the division. His size overwhelmed Fedor Emelianenko and now that he's better managing the weight cut, he's got his stamina up to snuff.
6. Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal, Light heavyweight (7-1, 2-1 Strikeforce)
From a selling standpoint, King Mo has as much potential as anyone on the Strikeforce roster. His amateur wrestling background makes him competitive with any 205-pounder in the world. Once he cleans up his striking and learns how to manage his gas tank, sky's the limit. His personality and willingness to bond with the fans and haters alike, makes him a promotional dream.
7. Tim Kennedy, Middleweight (13-3, 4-1 Strikeforce)
Strikeforce is onto something here with Kennedy. Think Brian Stann, but a lot better in most facets of the game. The Army Special Forces veteran wants to fight all the time and he's a great role model to push to casual and non-MMA fans. More than any other division, the UFC's middleweight class is in need a new blood. Kennedy is a great pickup.
8. Fedor Emelianenko, Heavyweight (31-3, Strikeforce 1-2)
I'd love to have Fedor on top of this list, but the relationship is so frayed between M-1, his management team and White, it's difficult to imagine seeing him the Octagon anytime soon. He also needs to win some fights to rebuild his brand and reputation.
In his first comments about Fedor, White didn't seem optomistic:
"I don't see any irony in that," White told Yahoo!'s Kevin Iole, chuckling. "Even though Fedor is now under contract with Zuffa, I still have a hard time imagining he'll ever fight in the UFC. We'll see, but that's my bet right now."
"You know me," White said. "I'm as big a fan of this as anybody and I love making the fights that everyone wants to see. At the end of the day, it's all about making great fights and the fights the people want to see. That's what we're doing."
9. Jason Miller, Middleweight (24-7, 1-1 Strikeforce, 0-1 UFC)
Miller is far from the best fighter on this list, but he's the most media savvy. His MTV show "Bully Beatdown" and appearances all over satellite radio give him exposure more MMA fighters can't even sniff. He fought for the UFC back in 2005 against GSP, but simply wasn't ready for that level and was draining himself way down at 170 pounds.
10. Gegard Mousasi, Light heavyweight (30-3, 2-1 Strikeforce)
I'm still a backer of Mousasi. His calculated style and killer instinct makes him an attractive addition. He just needs to strategize a little more against top level fighters and must shore up his takedown defense. Don't sleep on the Armenian's future. UFC may talk to him about going back down to middleweight. An Anderson Silva-Mousasi fight would be dynamite.
11. Fabricio Werdum, Heavyweight (14-4, 3-0 Strikeforce)
We're still not sure what went down when Werdum was sent packing by the UFC back in 2009. His talent is undeniable. Werdum is a huge dude at 6-5, 245 and his jiu-jitsu is some of the best in the world for the weight class. The win over Fedor was no fluke and don't forget he avoided dangerous situations in getting the win over Antonio Silva too. Grappling matchups against Lesnar, Mir, Carwin and even Roy Nelson would be awesome.
12. Paul Daley, Welterweight (27-9, 1-0 Strikeforce, 2-1 UFC)
The villain of all villians. Whether Daley should've been cut from the UFC is still debatable. His questionable attitude is not. We all have bosses and sometimes have to swallow our pride to co-exist. Daley was supposedly posting today on the Underground Forum today that he needs to "think" about fighting for the UFC and making money for White. Frankly, it's not his decision. It's also pretty stupid to push for your options to only include Japan's DREAM, BAMMA, Shark Fights, Titan Fighting, Bellator and MFC.
13. Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, Middleweight (14-2, 4-0 Strikeforce)
Jacare is very intriguing. His submission game is off the charts and would be a great anti-dote against the UFC's wrestlers/grapplers like Chael Sonnen and Yushin Okami. As the Strikeforce middleweight champ, he controls his own destiny. If he keeps winning under the "business as usual" operation, he'll force the hand of the UFC to put him in the mix with the big company.
14. Rafael Cavalcante, Light heavyweight (10-3, 3-2 Strikeforce)
"Feijao" lost to Henderson, but it's just one fight. The guy comes to bang and has an excellent ground game. The UFC could certainly find a home for another huge, well-rounded light heavyweight.
15. Robbie Lawler, Middleweight (18-7, 2-3 Strikeforce, 4-3 UFC)
It would be shocking to see Lawler on the outside looking in. He's a favorite of White's. His style is exactly what fans and the promotion latch onto. Lawler's one-punch knockout power makes him a more talented version of Chris Lytle and we know he's got a job for life with the promotion as long as he remains around .500.
Others possibly in the mix: Josh Thomson, *Shinya Aoki, *Tatsuya Kawajiri, Shane del Rosario, Daniel Cormier.
*Not under contract with Strikeforce. Co-promotional deals with DREAM.
The purchase should certainly excite fight fans. A deeper overall roster should eliminate the possibility of the best in the world being kept out of the same cage because of promotional issues.
Who are you most excited to see in the UFC? Here's a list of the top 15 fighters based on ability, mixed with the existing hurdles that could prevent them for stepping into the Octagon.
1. Nick Diaz, Welterweight (23-7, 5-0 Strikeforce, 6-4 UFC)
Outside the cage, the former UFC fighter is a wild man, but White is the first to admit he's a talented kid. The current Strikeforce welterweight champion hasn't lost since 2007. He's also one of the only welterweights outside of the UFC that fans would love to see take on Georges St. Pierre. In less than a month at Strikeforce's next scheduled event in San Diego on Apr. 9, he defends his title against Paul Daley. His brother Nate is currently fighting at 170 pounds in the UFC.
2. Gilbert Melendez, Lightweight (18-2, 8-1 Strikeforce)
He wasn't the first name on the lips of many MMA fans, but he probably should be. He's the most legitimate threat to any of the UFC title holders. Melendez's mix of wrestling, striking, strategy and stamina puts him immediately in the mix with Gray Maynard and Anthony Pettis to challenge for Frank Edgar's title. Just as important, he wants to fight the best and is an easy guy to manage.
3. Dan Henderson. Light heavyweight (27-8, Strikeforce 2-1, UFC 5-2)
With just one fight left on his deal, Henderson could be the first Strikeforce star to crossover. His 2009 exit from the UFC was more about ancillary concerns than his performance in the cage.
With his win last weekend over Strikeforce light heavyweight champ Rafael Cavalcante, the 40-year-old proved again that he's a top 10 fighter at light heavyweight. He could also go back down to middleweight if he wants to and the UFC thought that was the best spot.
Henderson told MMAWeekly it's a shocking move, but he's open to fighting for anyone.
"I don't know what to feel about it, I don't necessarily think, it might not be the best thing for the sport. But then again you're going to start being able to see all these match-ups that everyone wants to see. Who knows," Henderson said. "I had no plans of leaving, but I don't know what this is going to do those plans, but I have one fight left on my deal and we'll see what happens,"
Henderson is cool with White.
"I've never said anything bad about them. I always appreciated everything they've done for me and for the sport. It's just I was paid more money to go elsewhere, and that's what I did. Dana's the type that needs to talk a little smack if he doesn't get his way, but I've got no hard feelings about anything."
Strikeforce paid Hendo a healthy salary and allowed him to promote his clothing line, Clinch Gear. Hopefully, this time around the Clinch Gear issue can be resolved so we can see Henderson face the likes of Mauricio Rua, Rashad Evans, Quinton Jackson, Jon Jones and Lyoto Machida.
4. Alistair Overeem, Heavyweight (34-11, 3-0 Strikeforce)
If everything is cool on the pre-fight drug testing front, Overeem would be an awesome addition to the UFC heavyweight division. His pure power, look and striking is very promotable. An Overeem fight against Cain Velasquez, Brock Lesnar, Junior dos Santos, Frank Mir or Shane Carwin would be a seat-filler. That said, he'll have to drop the desire to compete in K-1 competitions.
5. Antonio Silva, Heavyweight (16-2, 3-1 Strikeforce)
This seems high, right? That's how good Silva is now and can be down the road. "Big Foot" is one of the biggest heavyweights in the world and is quickly developing one of the more well-rounded games in the division. His size overwhelmed Fedor Emelianenko and now that he's better managing the weight cut, he's got his stamina up to snuff.
6. Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal, Light heavyweight (7-1, 2-1 Strikeforce)
From a selling standpoint, King Mo has as much potential as anyone on the Strikeforce roster. His amateur wrestling background makes him competitive with any 205-pounder in the world. Once he cleans up his striking and learns how to manage his gas tank, sky's the limit. His personality and willingness to bond with the fans and haters alike, makes him a promotional dream.
7. Tim Kennedy, Middleweight (13-3, 4-1 Strikeforce)
Strikeforce is onto something here with Kennedy. Think Brian Stann, but a lot better in most facets of the game. The Army Special Forces veteran wants to fight all the time and he's a great role model to push to casual and non-MMA fans. More than any other division, the UFC's middleweight class is in need a new blood. Kennedy is a great pickup.
8. Fedor Emelianenko, Heavyweight (31-3, Strikeforce 1-2)
I'd love to have Fedor on top of this list, but the relationship is so frayed between M-1, his management team and White, it's difficult to imagine seeing him the Octagon anytime soon. He also needs to win some fights to rebuild his brand and reputation.
In his first comments about Fedor, White didn't seem optomistic:
"I don't see any irony in that," White told Yahoo!'s Kevin Iole, chuckling. "Even though Fedor is now under contract with Zuffa, I still have a hard time imagining he'll ever fight in the UFC. We'll see, but that's my bet right now."
"You know me," White said. "I'm as big a fan of this as anybody and I love making the fights that everyone wants to see. At the end of the day, it's all about making great fights and the fights the people want to see. That's what we're doing."
9. Jason Miller, Middleweight (24-7, 1-1 Strikeforce, 0-1 UFC)
Miller is far from the best fighter on this list, but he's the most media savvy. His MTV show "Bully Beatdown" and appearances all over satellite radio give him exposure more MMA fighters can't even sniff. He fought for the UFC back in 2005 against GSP, but simply wasn't ready for that level and was draining himself way down at 170 pounds.
10. Gegard Mousasi, Light heavyweight (30-3, 2-1 Strikeforce)
I'm still a backer of Mousasi. His calculated style and killer instinct makes him an attractive addition. He just needs to strategize a little more against top level fighters and must shore up his takedown defense. Don't sleep on the Armenian's future. UFC may talk to him about going back down to middleweight. An Anderson Silva-Mousasi fight would be dynamite.
11. Fabricio Werdum, Heavyweight (14-4, 3-0 Strikeforce)
We're still not sure what went down when Werdum was sent packing by the UFC back in 2009. His talent is undeniable. Werdum is a huge dude at 6-5, 245 and his jiu-jitsu is some of the best in the world for the weight class. The win over Fedor was no fluke and don't forget he avoided dangerous situations in getting the win over Antonio Silva too. Grappling matchups against Lesnar, Mir, Carwin and even Roy Nelson would be awesome.
12. Paul Daley, Welterweight (27-9, 1-0 Strikeforce, 2-1 UFC)
The villain of all villians. Whether Daley should've been cut from the UFC is still debatable. His questionable attitude is not. We all have bosses and sometimes have to swallow our pride to co-exist. Daley was supposedly posting today on the Underground Forum today that he needs to "think" about fighting for the UFC and making money for White. Frankly, it's not his decision. It's also pretty stupid to push for your options to only include Japan's DREAM, BAMMA, Shark Fights, Titan Fighting, Bellator and MFC.
13. Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, Middleweight (14-2, 4-0 Strikeforce)
Jacare is very intriguing. His submission game is off the charts and would be a great anti-dote against the UFC's wrestlers/grapplers like Chael Sonnen and Yushin Okami. As the Strikeforce middleweight champ, he controls his own destiny. If he keeps winning under the "business as usual" operation, he'll force the hand of the UFC to put him in the mix with the big company.
14. Rafael Cavalcante, Light heavyweight (10-3, 3-2 Strikeforce)
"Feijao" lost to Henderson, but it's just one fight. The guy comes to bang and has an excellent ground game. The UFC could certainly find a home for another huge, well-rounded light heavyweight.
15. Robbie Lawler, Middleweight (18-7, 2-3 Strikeforce, 4-3 UFC)
It would be shocking to see Lawler on the outside looking in. He's a favorite of White's. His style is exactly what fans and the promotion latch onto. Lawler's one-punch knockout power makes him a more talented version of Chris Lytle and we know he's got a job for life with the promotion as long as he remains around .500.
Others possibly in the mix: Josh Thomson, *Shinya Aoki, *Tatsuya Kawajiri, Shane del Rosario, Daniel Cormier.
*Not under contract with Strikeforce. Co-promotional deals with DREAM.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
future of Japanese mixed martial arts rides of Aoki / Watch The official weigh-in event for Strikeforce
Mr. Aoki, I watched Kazushi Sakuraba. I knew Kazushi Sakuraba. Kazushi Sakuraba was a friend of mine. Mr. Aoki, you're no Kazushi Sakuraba.
Music City. Bridgestone Arena. A short rib's throw from the Ryman Auditorium. Foreign soil in a foreign country. Did it really come to this for the 37-year-old Kato, considered by many to be the most powerful executive in Japanese mixed martial arts? For Shinya Aoki, the standard-bearer, the current and future? For an industry and a country they cherish equally.
Aoki, 26, 5-foot-11, disdainful, proud, simple, stands burdened by the weight of expectation and anticipation. Slender surly young man, what role will you grasp? Savior? Can you resurrect what once was? Or are you the final nail? The one that couldn't get it done? The reason a feared man gargled difficult words under his breath?
"I haven't been nervous like this in a long time," Kato said from beneath a thinning, graying flattop. "It's very important."
* * *
In the U.S., scouts tirelessly scour every corner of the country in search of the next Clemens or Jordan or Elway. They do this because sport is big business. Because if they don't, someone else will.
Things aren't so different in other parts of the world, which is how Sotaro Shinoda came to know the name Shinya Aoki, a skinny kid with a hefty reputation for finding ippon (finishes) in his high school judo matches.
Shinoda worked alongside Kato and others at Dream Stage Entertainment, the parent company for the Pride Fighting Championships, and kept close tabs on Aoki as he passed through to university life. They watched him become a police officer, before he changed his mind. They watched him step into the ring for the first time. They watched, waited, and not quite three years into his career, still skinny, still searching for definitive endings, Aoki received an offer from Kato's management company, Real Entertainment, to compete in Pride, which in 2006 was the world's dominant MMA organization.
Aoki was the future, the next Sakuraba -- a master showman and the major reason Japanese audiences were so attached to Pride in its early years.
"Simply, he made the MMA business in Japan," Aoki said of Sakuraba. "Japanese fans will always remember him."
Yet less than a year after Aoki debuted in Pride's Bushido series, the company fell under serious pressure when reports linked its management to figures in the Japanese and Korean underworld. Coinciding with UFC's ascension in the U.S., the sport's power base shifted almost overnight from Japan to North America. Deep in debt and facing mounting public scrutiny, Pride CEO Nobuyuki Sakakibara sold the company in 2007 to UFC majority owners Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta.
"That's when things became difficult to navigate because the power structure changed," said Strikeforce president and CEO Scott Coker, whose strong ties to the Japanese fight scene helped maneuver Aoki (23-4) into a cage on American soil against Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez (17-2). "Since Pride left there's been a void. I know fans are still hurt by the demise of Pride. It basically went away. It was like a subculture in Japan. They had a ton of fans. It was something that set the bar."
With an aging, battered Sakuraba taking a step back and Pride lightweight champion Takanori Gomi burning bridges with Kato, Aoki was given the chance to stand as Japan's preeminent fighter. The new platform, a congealing of old Pride and K-1 factions, was called Dream. Aoki has gone 9-2 in the organization, and currently stands as Dream's lightweight champion.
* * *
On Dec. 31, 2009, Japanese MMA was in a bad place. Dream was chugging along, pulling mediocre to moderately acceptable television ratings. Much of the top international talent that marked Pride's heyday had left for America. There wasn't any real momentum behind MMA anymore. Dream was coming off like a faux Pride and upstarts such as Sengoku, formed as a reaction to the sale of Pride to the UFC, seemed incapable of finding stability in a contracting market.
Combine that with what many believe to be the worst economic downturn in Japan's history, and it's no surprise that the MMA industry is diminished to the point where it may soon require a pressing of the reset button.
New Year's Eve at the Saitama Super Arena, a miraculous venue housing many of Japan's best fight cards, Aoki said he was possessed. Literally, by a demon.
Spurned on by Kato -- who hammered into Aoki just how important it was that he defeat Sengoku lightweight champion Mizuto Hirota in the rubber match of a best-of-nine series pitting the promotions' fighters -- the 26-year-old submission wizard grotesquely and unmercifully snapped Hirota's right arm in just over two minutes. Aoki rose to his feet, looked down on his victim and gave him the finger.
Months later, Aoki's decimation of Hirota is a piece of the Dream champion's mythology. During the promotion for his bout against Melendez, he repeatedly insisted he doesn't hold any regrets, nor does he maintain a sense of responsibility.
Aoki has tired of answering questions about Hirota. He doesn't see what all the fuss is about.
"I can't deny that it will happen again," Aoki expressed in baritone voice which takes on the raspy tinge of a post-March Madness basketball coach.
Who is Shinya Aoki?
For starters, he's isn't Kazushi Sakuraba. He isn't a darling of the Japanese television networks. The bout with Melendez won't even be televised back home. (It's relegated to highlights on Japan's national sports news broadcasts.)
He lives frugally, happy to compete and teach. Aoki's parents control his bank account, from which his mother provides a monthly allowance. Aoki's manager, Masaki Hasegawa, the president and owner of Koubudo, a chain of MMA related stores throughout Japan, pays him a regular salary via Dream that is separate to his fight purses. Aoki doesn't watch television. He doesn't have Internet at home either, only in the gym, which is where he spends most of his time.
"MMA is his biggest concern and interest," Hasegawa said. "He doesn't have anything else besides MMA. His only interest is to be stronger than he was yesterday."
Said Aoki: "I dedicate my life to fighting."
* * *
Hiroyuki Kato peered down at Aoki, who was sitting at a large round table surrounded by a dozen or so countrymen.
"I think Aoki knows" the immediate future of Japanese MMA is riding on his performance, Kato said. "This is a big deal, a Japanese fighter on CBS prime time. I expect that many circumstances will change, and people will become encouraged. I hope this fight will change everything for the better."
Asked if he's comfortable in the role of a next-generation Sakuraba, Aoki confirmed he was.
"Our generation has to lead Japanese MMA," he responded. "I feel I'm representing Dream and also Japan."
And what if Kato's prized fighter fails in his bid to capture Melendez's Strikeforce title?
"I don't know what happens," the powerful manager and producer admitted. "Probably, we have to start from the beginning. Even under these circumstances we will never give up to get MMA back to where it was in Japan."
The official weigh-in event for Strikeforce: "Nashville" got underway today (April 16) from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.
All fighters set to compete on the CBS "Saturday Night Fights" card made weight with the exception of Andrew Uhrich, who came in a measley half-pound over the welterweight limit. He currently has two hours to lose the extra weight.
Despite the percolating tensions between light heavyweights Gegard Mousasi and "King Mo" Lawal, things remained fairly even-tempered throughout the affair.
And Dan Henderson looked to be having the time of his life.
Here are the complete Strikeforce: "Nashville" weigh in results:
Watch Live on CBS Saturday Night @ 9pm EST.....
Main event:
185 lbs.: Jake Shields (184 3/4) vs. Dan Henderson (185)
Main card (Televised):
205 lbs.: Gegard Mousasi (204 1/2) vs. Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal (204 1/4)
155 lbs.: Gilbert Melendez (154 1/2) vs. Shinya Aoki (154 1/2)
Under card (May not be broadcast):
185 lbs.: Jason "Mayhem" Miller (185) vs. Tim Stout (186)
170 lbs.: Zach Underwood (179 1/2) vs. Hunter Worsham (180 1/2)
185 lbs.: Josh Schockman (205 1/4) vs. Cale Yarbrough (203 3/4)
125 lbs.: Dustin Ortiz (125) vs. Justin Pennington (124 1/4)
170 lbs.: Andrew Uhrich (171 1/2) vs. Dustin West (169 1/2)
205 lbs.: Chris Hawk (205 3/4) vs. Ovince St. Preux (205 1/2)
145 lbs.: Thomas Campbell (145 3/4) vs. Cody Floyd (145 1/4)
Strikeforce Nashville Weigh-ins
Tim Stout vs. Jason "Mayhem" Miller weigh-in video!
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SHARE Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Dan Henderson, Jake Shields Fight on CBS on April 17 in Nashville Live ...
Henderson left UFC last year for STRIKEFORCE and the opportunity to compete on national broadcast television, and fight the sport’s best fighters.
“There’s no bigger platform and CBS was a huge part of my decision,” said Henderson, the only fighter in history to simultaneously hold two different titles in two different weight classes for a major MMA promotion (PRIDE Fighting Championships).
Shields, STRIKEFORCE lightweight (155 pounds) champion Gilbert Melendez, and STRIKEFORCE Founder and CEO Scott Coker spoke with the media on a conference call Friday.
Henderson will be looking to make a major impact and win in dramatic fashion in his STRIKEFORCE debut. If he wins, he will be able to stop the momentum of a young star and win the most prestigious title of his decorated career; a win for Shields over a seasoned, highly accomplished fighter such as Henderson, would cement his reputation as one of the world’s best competitors.
Although Shields was nearly choked out before getting saved by the bell in his last fight against Jason “Mayhem” Miller, Shields has been on a roll, winning his last 13 fights.
Against Henderson, Shields, a Cesar Gracie-trained Jiu Jitsu black belt, will face the toughest challenge of his career.
“I know he has good power, but I’m not the easiest guy to hit and I certainly can take a punch,” Shields said. “I’m ready for it, I’ve worked hard on it. I know on paper he’s a better wrestler, but a lot of times it doesn’t always stack up that way when you get in the cage.”
Even though he has the experience advantage, Henderson said he is not taking Shields lightly.
“Jake has been on a big winning streak and he’s very dangerous in certain aspects of the game,” Henderson said. “I’m sure he plans on taking me down and using some of his submissions. There are definitely things I need to watch out for and be careful for. I think it’s got the potential to be a really exciting fight.”
For Shields, 10 of his 24 victories have come by submission, a fact that “Hendo” doesn’t seem too impressed with.
“I feel like over the years I’ve fought guys as good or better than Jake on the ground that are great at submissions,” Henderson said. “I’m not too bad there myself, so I’m not really too concerned too much about it. But I am also aware that that’s probably the biggest danger for me when fighting Jake Shields, but I’m going to be very comfortable there.”
Henderson, 39, was a decorated high school wrestling champion in California. He wrestled at Cal State University, Fullerton and Arizona State University, where he competed in the 1993 NCAA championships. He also competed in the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games in Greco-Roman Wrestling.
The younger Shields, 31, wrestled at San Francisco State University, where he was a two-time All-American, and holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
The two fighters’ styles could make for a classic fight.
“Of course the two things I want to do are win, of course, but I also want to put on an exciting fight,” Shields said. “I know Henderson is a tough fight. But, the other thing is stylistically it will probably be an exciting fight. I want to go out there and use heavy striking and try to put him away with submissions or ground and pound, whatever. I’m definitely trying to end this fight.”
Henderson has not fought since July of 2009, when he knocked out Michael Bisping, earning him Knockout of the Night honors at UFC 100. He said he’s looking forward to getting back into the cage after the nine-month layoff.
“I’m very excited and hungry to just get out there and fight and fight well,” Henderson said. “It’s been a while since I’ve been out there and I definitely want to be impressive with my first fight in STRIKEFORCE. There is a belt on the line, so I’m very excited about that.”
Also on the card, Melendez will defend his crown against DREAM champion Shinya Aoki.
Aoki is a master submission wrestler with an edge. He broke his opponent’s arm in his last fight. To add insult to injury, he flipped the middle finger at his opponent after he won.
Melendez said he was not too concerned about Aoki’s antics after his last win. He’s focused on the Japanese fighter’s ring ability.
“A perfect fight would be we never hit the ground and I sprawl and brawl this guy,” Melendez said. “But, you got to be prepared for every scenario in this fight and I believe I am. I have to be able to defend all his submissions, I have to be able to be confident on the ground, and, like I said, best case scenario I never touch the ground and I knock him out. “
In the third world title fight, Gegard Mousasi of Armenia will defend his STRIKEFORCE Light Heavyweight (205 pounds) crown against unbeaten “King Mo” Lawal (6-0), a two-time NCAA Division I All-American wrestling champion and Big 12 champion who will be fighting in his home state of Tennessee.
STRIKEFORCE CEO Scott Coker said he expects millions of people across the nation to tune in into the April 17 fight.
“These are matchups that are going to be amazing and it took us a long time to put these fights together,” Coker said. “Every one of these fights could be a main event, so we’ll have a triple main event next Saturday on CBS. We’re hoping to have a great rating, that’s definitely one of our goals and we’re working hard to achieve that.”
legend and two-time United States Olympic wrestling competitor Dan Henderson (25-7) will challenge STRIKEFORCE World Middleweight (185 pounds) Champion Jake Shields (24-4-1) in the main event of a highly anticipated STRIKEFORCE fight card at Bridgestone Arena (formerly known as Sommet Center) in Nashville on Saturday, April 17.
In other featured bouts, STRIKEFORCE World Light Heavyweight (205 pounds) Champion Gegard Mousasi (28-2-1) will defend his crown against undefeated MMA star and two-time NCAA All-American wrestling star "King Mo" (6-0) while STRIKEFORCE World Lightweight (155 pounds) Champion Gilbert "El Nino" Melendez (17-2) will put his title on the line against DREAM Champion and top-ranked Japanese superstar Shinya Aoki (23-4). © EXPLOSION ENTERTAINMENT, LLC. FIGHT
UNDERCARD
Jason MillerVS TIM STOUT
CHRIS HAWK VS OVINCE ST. PREAUX
DUSTIN WEST VS ANDY UHRICH
JOSH SHOCKMAN VS CALE YARBROUGH
ZACH UNDERWOOD VS HUNTER WORSHAM
DUSTIN ORTIZ VS JUSTIN PENNINGTON
CODY FLOYD VS THOMAS CAMPBELL
Monday, March 1, 2010
CBS to air strikeforce event
|
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Saturday, July 11, 2009
UFC Weigh in results !
UFC 100 anticipation
By D Meltzer,
LAS VEGAS – If ever there was confirmation that the Ultimate Fighting Championship isn’t like any other major sports league, it was on Friday night, when it held its first real Hall of Fame ceremony as part of a Fan Expo at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.
There was Dana White, the president of the company, and company co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta, hardly looking like two executives of what one recent media report after another has labeled as a $1 billion company. White, in torn jeans and a novelty T-shirt making fun of another company executive, came back from weigh-ins and a Q&A session with fans, to induct Chuck Liddell and the late Charles “Mask” Lewis Jr. as the sixth and seventh members of a Hall of Fame that as of yet has no location.
Liddell, 39, also dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, almost epitomized the casual atmosphere of the event. Liddell is nicknamed “The Iceman” because when it comes to fighting, the former light heavyweight champion shows no emotion and no matter how scary the opponent, he never shows an inkling of fear.
But on this stage, he hardly lived up to that name. Liddell isn’t afraid to fight, but seemed afraid to give a speech, pacing nervously, and being apologetic from the start about his difficulties with speeches. He thanked the audience, the company, his opponents and even grudgingly, famous rival Tito Ortiz. He talked about his UFC debut fight, back on May 15, 1998, which he thought was in Louisiana, although it was actually in Alabama, before a smaller crowd than the one watching him give his speech, and what the sport had turned into.
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Liddell has not decided if he’ll fight again after a loss three months ago to Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. White has strongly advised him not to, although the subject of his future was never broached. Liddell, after knocking out Randy Couture in the company’s first pay-per-view event in 2005 after building a new audience on Spike TV, and with his win the next year over Tito Ortiz, became the company’s most popular and most recognizable period fighter during a time of incredible growth.
“It’s a very emotional day for us,” said Fertitta. “This guy has defined a sport. When you see the UFC logo, you immediately think of Chuck Liddell.” The ceremony got more emotional with the induction of Lewis, far better known as “Mask,” who died after an auto accident in Southern California on March 11. He became the first non-fighter the company honored. It was noted the symbolic nature of inducting Lewis, who was Liddell’s first sponsor when sponsors were rare, because the two became close friends.
Lewis, a co-founder of the Tapout T-shirt line, sponsored fighters in the late 1990s when politicians who didn’t know the first thing about MMA pressured venues and cable companies, resulting with the sport nearly going down for the count.
“When Lorenzo and I first met him in 2001, the guy was sponsoring fighters with money that he didn’t have,” said White. “There was no money to be made in this sport. He was always upbeat about everything.”
Liddell and Lewis join previous inductees Royce Gracie, Ken Shamrock, Dan Severn, Randy Couture and Mark Coleman, and many consider themselves still active. Couture, 46, will headline UFC 102 in Portland, Ore., against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. Coleman, 45, an NCAA champion wrestler in 1988 and U.S. Olympian in 1992, was one of the company’s first champions dating back to a 1997 win over Severn to win the heavyweight title. He faces Stephan Bonnar in a match Saturday night.
The Hall of Fame ceremony was entirely different from what one would expect. UFC 100 airs live in 75 countries and 17 languages, according to White, as well as in 5,000 bars, night clubs and restaurants in the U.S. and Canada. Friday seemed more a casual gathering of old friends reminiscing, joking and getting teary-eyed about the past, with the only thing missing being a toast.
The atmosphere at Mandalay Bay on the day before the biggest event in company history was unlike any other. The company ran its first Fan Expo, built along the lines of the Arnold Fitness Expo held every March in Columbus, Ohio, an event UFC piggybacks a card on every year.
The convention center was mobbed with autograph seekers, and there was no lack of obliging fighters. There were booths for clothing companies, athletic supplements, training equipment, and merchandise, such as a look at the UFC action figure line. There was a line for people to get into the octagon and get their photos taken, and a two-day elite grappling tournament, which drew large crowds.
Before the Hall of Fame ceremony, White gave a keynote speech to fans, thanking them, and assured everyone who asked that UFC would visit their home city. Whether it be Toronto, where MMA is not yet legal, or Boston, where he promised a show early next year even though it is not yet commission approved, to Scotland, Japan, the Philippines and Abu Dhabi, White told fans the UFC has plans of running live events there soon. He teased stadium-sized shows in Honolulu and Toronto, while at other times seemed negative about running in stadiums too large for fear it would hurt the live fan experience. White also vowed that they would soon be holding live events in France, Mexico and Australia.
The crowd for the weigh-ins at the Mandalay Bay Events Center was bigger than ever. The curtained-off section of the arena was completely packed with nearly 6,000 fans and another 1,000 or so turned away.
The crowd booed U.K. star Michael Bisping out of the building for his match against Dan Henderson. They also booed Thiago Alves, although not nearly as hard, against welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre, easily the most popular fighter on the show. They favored Frank Mir over heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar. Yoshihiro Akiyama, one of Japan’s most well-known fighters, a former judo champion making his UFC debut, normally gets booed louder than anyone in his home environment. But here, “Sexyama” as he was called by Joe Rogan, was an unknown to the crowd.
All the fighters made weight and looked in good shape, although Coleman looked every bit of his age as he weighed in against Bonnar. Mir, who weighed 245 pounds, lighter than he had been in several years, flexed hard to show at least the beginnings of a six-pack. Lesnar came across as an annoyed, impatient man who couldn’t wait for the fight.
Lesnar weighed 265, the maximum allowed for the heavyweight division, and will likely be several pounds heavier come fight time.
There were no incidents during the weigh-ins The most colorful impression was made by Tom Lawlor, who had written “Just bleed” in white lettering on his chest. That was reference to a notorious video clip of a fan at a UFC event many years ago, who had the same phrase written on his chest.
Weigh-in results: Preliminary matches
Matt Grice (155) vs. Shannon Gugerty (156)C.B. Dollaway (186) vs. Tom Lawlor (184)T.J. Grant (170) vs. Dong Hyun Kim (171)Jon Jones (206) vs. Jake O’Brien (206)Jim Miller (155) vs. Mac Danzig (154)Mark Coleman (205) vs. Stephan Bonnar (205)Pay-per-view matches
Jon Fitch (170) vs. Paulo Thiago (170)Yoshihiro Akiyama (185) vs. Alan Belcher (186)Dan Henderson (185) vs. Michael Bisping (186)UFC welterweight championship: Georges St. Pierre (170) vs. Thiago Alves (170)UFC heavyweight championship: Brock Lesnar (265) vs. Frank Mir (245)
By D Meltzer,
LAS VEGAS – If ever there was confirmation that the Ultimate Fighting Championship isn’t like any other major sports league, it was on Friday night, when it held its first real Hall of Fame ceremony as part of a Fan Expo at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.
There was Dana White, the president of the company, and company co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta, hardly looking like two executives of what one recent media report after another has labeled as a $1 billion company. White, in torn jeans and a novelty T-shirt making fun of another company executive, came back from weigh-ins and a Q&A session with fans, to induct Chuck Liddell and the late Charles “Mask” Lewis Jr. as the sixth and seventh members of a Hall of Fame that as of yet has no location.
Liddell, 39, also dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, almost epitomized the casual atmosphere of the event. Liddell is nicknamed “The Iceman” because when it comes to fighting, the former light heavyweight champion shows no emotion and no matter how scary the opponent, he never shows an inkling of fear.
But on this stage, he hardly lived up to that name. Liddell isn’t afraid to fight, but seemed afraid to give a speech, pacing nervously, and being apologetic from the start about his difficulties with speeches. He thanked the audience, the company, his opponents and even grudgingly, famous rival Tito Ortiz. He talked about his UFC debut fight, back on May 15, 1998, which he thought was in Louisiana, although it was actually in Alabama, before a smaller crowd than the one watching him give his speech, and what the sport had turned into.
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Liddell has not decided if he’ll fight again after a loss three months ago to Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. White has strongly advised him not to, although the subject of his future was never broached. Liddell, after knocking out Randy Couture in the company’s first pay-per-view event in 2005 after building a new audience on Spike TV, and with his win the next year over Tito Ortiz, became the company’s most popular and most recognizable period fighter during a time of incredible growth.
“It’s a very emotional day for us,” said Fertitta. “This guy has defined a sport. When you see the UFC logo, you immediately think of Chuck Liddell.” The ceremony got more emotional with the induction of Lewis, far better known as “Mask,” who died after an auto accident in Southern California on March 11. He became the first non-fighter the company honored. It was noted the symbolic nature of inducting Lewis, who was Liddell’s first sponsor when sponsors were rare, because the two became close friends.
Lewis, a co-founder of the Tapout T-shirt line, sponsored fighters in the late 1990s when politicians who didn’t know the first thing about MMA pressured venues and cable companies, resulting with the sport nearly going down for the count.
“When Lorenzo and I first met him in 2001, the guy was sponsoring fighters with money that he didn’t have,” said White. “There was no money to be made in this sport. He was always upbeat about everything.”
Liddell and Lewis join previous inductees Royce Gracie, Ken Shamrock, Dan Severn, Randy Couture and Mark Coleman, and many consider themselves still active. Couture, 46, will headline UFC 102 in Portland, Ore., against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. Coleman, 45, an NCAA champion wrestler in 1988 and U.S. Olympian in 1992, was one of the company’s first champions dating back to a 1997 win over Severn to win the heavyweight title. He faces Stephan Bonnar in a match Saturday night.
The Hall of Fame ceremony was entirely different from what one would expect. UFC 100 airs live in 75 countries and 17 languages, according to White, as well as in 5,000 bars, night clubs and restaurants in the U.S. and Canada. Friday seemed more a casual gathering of old friends reminiscing, joking and getting teary-eyed about the past, with the only thing missing being a toast.
The atmosphere at Mandalay Bay on the day before the biggest event in company history was unlike any other. The company ran its first Fan Expo, built along the lines of the Arnold Fitness Expo held every March in Columbus, Ohio, an event UFC piggybacks a card on every year.
The convention center was mobbed with autograph seekers, and there was no lack of obliging fighters. There were booths for clothing companies, athletic supplements, training equipment, and merchandise, such as a look at the UFC action figure line. There was a line for people to get into the octagon and get their photos taken, and a two-day elite grappling tournament, which drew large crowds.
Before the Hall of Fame ceremony, White gave a keynote speech to fans, thanking them, and assured everyone who asked that UFC would visit their home city. Whether it be Toronto, where MMA is not yet legal, or Boston, where he promised a show early next year even though it is not yet commission approved, to Scotland, Japan, the Philippines and Abu Dhabi, White told fans the UFC has plans of running live events there soon. He teased stadium-sized shows in Honolulu and Toronto, while at other times seemed negative about running in stadiums too large for fear it would hurt the live fan experience. White also vowed that they would soon be holding live events in France, Mexico and Australia.
The crowd for the weigh-ins at the Mandalay Bay Events Center was bigger than ever. The curtained-off section of the arena was completely packed with nearly 6,000 fans and another 1,000 or so turned away.
The crowd booed U.K. star Michael Bisping out of the building for his match against Dan Henderson. They also booed Thiago Alves, although not nearly as hard, against welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre, easily the most popular fighter on the show. They favored Frank Mir over heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar. Yoshihiro Akiyama, one of Japan’s most well-known fighters, a former judo champion making his UFC debut, normally gets booed louder than anyone in his home environment. But here, “Sexyama” as he was called by Joe Rogan, was an unknown to the crowd.
All the fighters made weight and looked in good shape, although Coleman looked every bit of his age as he weighed in against Bonnar. Mir, who weighed 245 pounds, lighter than he had been in several years, flexed hard to show at least the beginnings of a six-pack. Lesnar came across as an annoyed, impatient man who couldn’t wait for the fight.
Lesnar weighed 265, the maximum allowed for the heavyweight division, and will likely be several pounds heavier come fight time.
There were no incidents during the weigh-ins The most colorful impression was made by Tom Lawlor, who had written “Just bleed” in white lettering on his chest. That was reference to a notorious video clip of a fan at a UFC event many years ago, who had the same phrase written on his chest.
Weigh-in results: Preliminary matches
Matt Grice (155) vs. Shannon Gugerty (156)C.B. Dollaway (186) vs. Tom Lawlor (184)T.J. Grant (170) vs. Dong Hyun Kim (171)Jon Jones (206) vs. Jake O’Brien (206)Jim Miller (155) vs. Mac Danzig (154)Mark Coleman (205) vs. Stephan Bonnar (205)Pay-per-view matches
Jon Fitch (170) vs. Paulo Thiago (170)Yoshihiro Akiyama (185) vs. Alan Belcher (186)Dan Henderson (185) vs. Michael Bisping (186)UFC welterweight championship: Georges St. Pierre (170) vs. Thiago Alves (170)UFC heavyweight championship: Brock Lesnar (265) vs. Frank Mir (245)
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