UFC & MMA thread

[AnthonyOTorres]

LAS VEGAS -- Brock Lesnar had less than a week to savor his successful title defense against Shane Carwin.

 

The former World Wrestling Entertainment superstar will put his heavyweight crown on the line against the unbeaten Cain Velasquez at UFC 121 on Oct. 23 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. Rodrigo “Comprido” Medeiros respects the considerable skills Velasquez brings to the table.

 

A junior college national champion and two-time collegiate All-American wrestler at Arizona State University, Velasquez has not fought since he steamrolled Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 110 in February.

 

“Cain Velasquez is a great fighter; he has a great level of muay Thai and wrestling,” Medeiros said. “I’m confident in Brock, and I think he’s the best heavyweight in the world. We’ll outline a strategy, make a plan and train, and I’m sure we’ll win this challenge. It’s a big challenge. Velasquez is an excellent athlete.”

 

Lesnar submitted the previously unbeaten Carwin with a second-round arm-triangle choke at UFC 116 on July 3 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The Minnesota-based heavyweight survived a harrowing first round in which Carwin wobbled him standing and threatened to finish him with ground-and-pound against the cage.

 

 

Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

Cain Velasquez is a threat.

 

“The important thing is teamwork,” Medeiros said. “Don’t forget that if he had not trained his boxing, perhaps he could not have withstood such punishment. If the guy’s wrestling wasn’t there, he could not have taken down his opponent and would not have had the opportunity. It’s teamwork.”

 

Lesnar answered the challenge in round two, as he scored with a takedown, moved to mount and put away Carwin with the choke. In that moment, several months’ worth of preparation paid off.

 

“This time, he made the training camp a little longer, with some intervals,” Medeiros said. “The camp typically lasts two months, but he made it four months. I thought this position would marry well with his game. It’s a position I’ve been practicing a lot with students in my gym in Chicago.

 

“We always have to be careful when we’re working with a top athlete, because there are tendencies with all coaches,” he added. “I want the submission. The boxing coach wants the knockout. The muay Thai coach expects low kicks and knees.”

 

The UFC 116 appearance was Lesnar’s first in nearly a year. The 33-year-old champion battled a life- and career-threatening intestinal disorder in late 2009 and emerged from it with renewed appreciation. Medeiros believes the experience added a new layer to Lesnar.

 

“First, he changed his eating habits and became a lighter but much stronger fighter,” Medeiros said. “Second, he recognized that he could change his lifestyle. This gave him the motivation to continue fighting and seek new challenges. I think it all came together in his head when he was being punished by Shane Carwin.

 

“Shane is a great opponent,” he added. “He has an impeccable record and defeated great fighters like Gabriel Gonzaga and Frank Mir. It was a great challenge and a great victory.”

 

Medeiros thinks the public misunderstands Lesnar, who has become one of the most polarizing figures in mixed martial arts.

 

“Brock Lesnar is a 260-pound UFC champion,” he said. “He doesn’t need anyone to defend him, and I’m not defending him because I train him. I can only speak about what I see, and I don’t relate to people with bad character. Brock is a very respectful guy. He’s a great person and very attentive. He’s attentive to the team, cares about everyone and always asks us what we need.

 

“He doesn’t like to talk to the press and has reservations about the way the public perceives him, as would anyone,” Medeiros added. “When you’re with your family, you don’t want anyone sticking a camera in your son’s face. At the time of a fight, you don’t want to stop and talk or give autographs. People have to understand that.”

[AnthonyOTorres]

UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua is on track for an early 2011 return -- possibly at the promotion’s annual Superbowl weekend event in February -- after undergoing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery in his left knee on June 10 in Los Angeles.

 

UFC President Dana White told the media earlier this month that the newly crowned titleholder wouldn’t be expected back at least until March. Eduardo Alonso, Rua’s manager, said all signs point to the 28-year-old fighter accomplishing that and possibly doing White one better.

 

“Off the top of my head, I think of the Superbowl card in February, but this is something that could change depending on his recovery schedule and the UFC’s business schedule,” said Alonso. “But the way things are going right now, I can tell you that he’ll be ready sooner than expected.”

 

The 2005 Pride Fighting Championships middleweight tournament champion’s injury and subsequent surgery were kept secret for weeks, said Alonso, to ease the fighter mentally into his recovery process.

 

Alonso said Rua injured his left knee during his first-round knockout victory over Lyoto Machida at UFC 113 last May in Montreal.

 

“It was precisely on the second takedown where he tried to take down Machida and Machida stuffed it and ended up on top,” said Alonso.

 

Rua had previously undergone surgery on his torn left ACL in September 2007, following a disastrous promotional debut against former 205-pound champion Forrest Griffin at UFC 76 in Anaheim, Calif. Rua also had a follow-up operation on the same knee in 2008.

 

“The first time he injured his knee was in training, and maybe from years of training, before the Forrest Griffin fight,” said Alonso. “He opted to fight with the injury and ended up having surgery right after. We don’t comment on it very often because we don’t like to take anything away from Forrest.”

 

Alonso said that the UFC helped facilitate the most recent surgery.

 

“We had options to do the surgery in many different places, but opted with the UFC’s advice to do it in Los Angeles with Dr. Kitvme,” said Alonso. “Honestly, I think it’s the best decision we’ve ever made.”

 

Following surgery, Rua traveled to Las Vegas and has spent the last four-and-a-half weeks in physical therapy with Alonso, Rua’s wife and his newborn daughter at his side.

 

Alonso said this recovery period has been the quickest of the three for an anxious Rua, who wanted to stop taking his pain medication a day after the surgery. Alonso praised the UFC for allotting its champion the time to heal without the pressure of committing to his next bout.

 

“Shogun is very happy, as he’s doing through a great moment in his life with (winning) the belt and the birth of his daughter,” said Alonso. “Mindset is very important for the recovery process, so we made sure he was comfortable. But he’s very anxious because he’s such an active guy. He has great genetics, so his recovery is going great. The challenge for us as a team has been to hold him back and make sure he takes his time.”

 

Alonso, Rua, and his family leave the United States for Brazil on Saturday, where the fighter will complete the rest of the physical therapy in one of the world’s biggest soccer clubs in Sao Paulo. Alonso said Rua will begin to integrate some training back into his rehabilitation and will resume his full-time regimen once his physicians give him the go-ahead.

 

White had said that Rua’s first title defense against Rashad Evans, who earned a unanimous decision over Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at UFC 114 last May, wouldn’t be scheduled until the former Chute Boxe fighter’s prognosis was clearer. However, a projected March return has ignited recent talk of Evans fighting another candidate for an interim title. Alonso said the chatter hasn’t fazed Rua.

 

“Honestly, we don’t mind talk of interim titles, because this is the UFC’s decision and not ours,” he said. “Shogun has the belt and it means a lot to him and he’s the legit UFC champion right now. If the UFC decides to set up an interim title for other fighters, it’s not really for us to evaluate this. Each manager is really trying to push his fighter’s best interests.”

 

With Rua’s fast-improving progress, a 205-pound interim title might not sound like a necessity after all.

 

“Whatever happens, Shogun will have to defend his belt when he’s back sooner or later and if it’s against an interim champion or just a contender, it doesn’t change much,” he said. “The way we see it, unless a champion retires, the interim champion is just another contender.”

[AnthonyOTorres]

what you guys think about james toney?

[AnthonyOTorres]

Back to Pride’s golden days, Wanderlei Silva was the main star of the division, and Maurício Shogun, a young guy who was unknown for MMA fans outside Brazil, was still a diamond waiting to be cut. Pride’s GP conquest in 2005 was the greatest prove that this talented fighter could fly higher

]With the conquest of UFC belt, Shogun reached the top of his division, and left Wanderlei, his idol, very impressed. “Before he was Ninja’s brother and now Ninja is his brother. And if someday he tried to copy and be like Wanderlei, now I want to be Shogun on the light heavyweight division. That inspired me, I want to start my fights trying to get the knockout”, affirmed Wanderlei, on an article published on this month’s edition of TATAME Magazine. On the exclusive chat, Wanderlei commented about the growth of his gym on the United States, talked about his new phase as a coach and a lot more

[c.u.t.t.h.o.a.t]

james toney is gonna be exciting as fuck.

he should lose obviously, but all it takes is one punch.

randy wont hit him standing up. id bet money on that.

i think toney could knock randy out from his back.

we'll see how the ufc MAKES this one pan out.

[AnthonyOTorres]

so your saying ufc is scripted?

[AnthonyOTorres]

Jon Jones sounds almost as surprised to say it as people are to hear it.

 

"I started training, not fighting but learning how to fight, about a year and a half ago," he said. "It has been two years, actually. I remember Christmas break, I'm done with school, and I decided not to go back for a semester. This is about my two-year anniversary. Everything happens for a reason. Everything just falls into place, you know."

 

It’s apparent, however, that things would not have simply fallen into place had it not been for Jones' virtuoso talents. One would be hard pressed to find another 22-year-old mixed martial artist who can be branded, just nine fights into his career and without a hint of overstatement, the future of the sport.

 

Whether or not the Endicott, N.Y.-bred Jones can realize that promise depends on if he can continue to impress with increasingly higher stakes. On Saturday, he takes on Matt Hamill in the featured contest of Spike TV's "Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale" special from Las Vegas. It's Jones’ free TV debut and, before an exceptionally large audience likely to be brought to the table by Kimbo Slice, it could prove a defining fight in Jones' potentially brilliant career.

 

Jones, who this summer began training with the highly regarded Greg Jackson camp in New Mexico, took some time to answer a dozen questions from Sherdog.com about this Saturday's fight.

 

Sherdog.com: Your opponent, Matt Hamill, was first introduced to MMA fans as a cast member on "The Ultimate Fighter 3" in 2006. What were you doing then?

Jones: In 2006 I was winning a national title (in wrestling) at Iowa Central Community College. My focus was on being a Division 1 national wrestling champion at Iowa State University. That's the only thing that mattered to me. I was a freshman in college, just trying to keep it real and learning myself, learning how to be an athlete. I was growing into my body a little bit.

 

Sherdog.com: How does a kid from Endicott end up in Iowa, one of the nation's wrestling hotbeds?

Jones: I had worked real hard. It was always my dream to be a New York state champ. My senior year I finally achieved that goal, which invited me to the national championship tournament for seniors only. I was ranked 11th in the country and I ended up taking 4th. I got looked at by a lot of Division 1 colleges.

 

I honestly didn't have the grades out of high school to be a Division 1 athlete. Iowa State and Iowa, they were looking at me, and they said, “Let's keep this kid in Iowa.” They got me into an Iowa junior college.

 

I was roommates with a guy named Joe Soto (today the Bellator Fighting Championships featherweight champion). His dream was always to be an MMA fighter. We stayed in the same room, and that kid would just sit there and watch YouTube videos and have fighting on all the time. He kind of introduced me to the sport, but I had no interest in fighting whatsoever. Honestly, I thought he was kind of crazy for being so brave to fight people.

 

Now, we both ended up being pretty decent martial artists. It's pretty crazy how it worked out.

 

Sherdog.com: What career track were you on before MMA?

Jones: I was studying criminal justice and I wanted to be a law enforcement officer in my hometown. Endicott, New York, man. I thought it would be so cool to be a hometown police officer.

 

I've always been a person who tries to do the right thing in life, for the most part. I'm no angel, but I was always the kid who snitched on the kids who had pot. I don't want to offend the pot smokers out there, but I was kind of just a snitch. I was just down for people doing the right thing. My parents kind of raised me to be a good guy. I've always been down for the good side, I guess.

 

Sherdog: Talk about your faith and the role it's played in your ascension.

Jones: I credit my faith for pretty much everything that's been happening in my life. I'm a Pentecostal Christian (and) my dad's a pastor, so I've been going to church every Sunday since I was a small child.

 

I had it rough growing up, and my life was never perfect. From where I was in (2006 and 2007), like a kid, and to be on this beautiful journey, it's just such a blessing. There's been guys who have trained in this sport for years and they've dedicated their whole lives to this, and here I am. I came out of nowhere, and on my two-year anniversary I'm fighting in the main event.

 

I realize all of this could be gone in a heartbeat. I try to not take any of this for granted and realize that God blessed me and he's given me these opportunities. It's just such an unlikely story. God just blessed me with a champion's mindset and confidence.

 

Sherdog: What kind of kid were you growing up?

Jones: As a kid I was never popular. I was always kind of just nice to everyone. I don't know. It was always about me and my brothers growing up.

 

I joined the wrestling team in seventh grade and I never took time off from the time it started. When kids would get one season in a year, I'd get three seasons in in a year. I would be doing freestyle and Greco.

 

My parents kept us pretty sheltered. We were never allowed to spend the night at our friends' house, not once. We were always taught to take care of our family and do the right things.

 

Sherdog: Have you ever had a near-death experience?

Jones: Actually I did. In Rochester, New York, me and my brothers and my mom, we were at a beach and they told us not to go out to a certain point. I swam out there and started realizing that I couldn't touch the ground. I remember seeing like a boat right over me, and some old Caucasian guy who was out there fishing on his boat, he made it over to me really fast and saved my life. I'll never forget it. I had to have been around 6 or 7. I remember getting a good whooping for disobeying my parents.

[c.u.t.t.h.o.a.t]

not saying its scripted, just that they build up who they want and give them decisions they didnt earn.

[Q666]

and thats why UFC has been gay as fuck for years.

if i ever watch it again, im gonna be watching 1 thru hmmm around 30 or 40 i guess

started to get lame and act like wwf after that, imo

[ohnoone]

please continue to quote outdated sherdog articles. its awesome really.

[AnthonyOTorres]

not a problem

[facemeltAAARGH]

Im not gonna say UFC is ENTIRELY scripted, but yes, there are a lot of bullshit 'mma politics' going on around mostly the refs and judges.

 

 

Whatever, br0.

[BRUCE LEROY]

thats why, just as any fight, you dont leave it to the ref or judges to decide....

 

i mean fuck guys pride 29? rampage vs ninja hua? you could sit here and speculate for hours how yakuza bosses thought rampage would sell them more t-shirts but the bottom line is if you leave the fight to the judges or refs, its now their decision, and they most likely didnt get their information over a message board.

 

i could give a fuck less about all the stupid bickering on this website but please, when we have threads where there is a lot of useful information being shared dont clog it up with your "cool story bros" and "youmads" because chances are, outside your circle of 15 year old friends no body finds you the least bit amusing

 

 

edit :: unless your

thank you can talk as much shit as you want

[ohnoone]

joey diaz rules.

[ALLFATS]

fuck the ufc.....shits faker than wwf.

[ALLFATS]

Nick diaz rules.

[twonpoo]

fuck the ufc.....shits faker than wwf.

 

 

 

 

 

[R@ndomH3ro]

Anyone watch Dream? The Japanese are UMAD that the US thinks that their MMA is no bueno

 

A lot of the winning speeches were about how they are going to bring "MMA dominance back to Japan"

 

LOL

[methamphetamyne]

link?^

[pissdrunkwhat?!]

I SERIOUSLY HATE DANA WHITE AND THE BROCK LESNAR SIDESHOW THAT IS UFC'S TITLE SITUATION RIGHT NOW.

SO I AINT MAD AT DREAM, BEIN UMAD AT THAT SHIT EITHER.

[BRUCE LEROY]

well i mean japan is an american colony so whats the big deal?

 

[facemeltAAARGH]

Americans are pansies when it comes to the rules.

 

Japanese didnt give a fuck even if a dude jumps up the air and stomps a fool out on the ground, and they treat their fighters like fucking royalty (not just money-wise), which makes it better. I wish Pride would come back, but that's just me.

[BRUCE LEROY]

yeah, i mean yellow cards deducting 10% from the fighters purse? that says a lot right there....aside from all the production, pride is just such an awesome experience, i literally have thoroughly enjoyed every pride dvd ive ever purchased...

[MiyWay]

Yeah I gotta agree. Fuck Dana White, stupid looking fuck getting rich off other peoples hardwork. Brock Lesnar I still dig though but his fight against Carwin ended pretty badly/boringly.

[R@ndomH3ro]

Americans are pansies when it comes to the rules.

 

Japanese didnt give a fuck even if a dude jumps up the air and stomps a fool out on the ground, and they treat their fighters like fucking royalty (not just money-wise), which makes it better. I wish Pride would come back, but that's just me.

 

yeah, i mean yellow cards deducting 10% from the fighters purse? that says a lot right there....aside from all the production, pride is just such an awesome experience, i literally have thoroughly enjoyed every pride dvd ive ever purchased...

 

 

What???!!! Dream is Pride, just with less American fighters. Still the same screaming lady, still the big productions, still the ring, and still allowing curb stomps while down.

 

I really think that most Japanese fighters are not used to the COMPLETE game of MMA. Like Aoki is a grappler but his stand-up is non existent, now how can he think that he can come to the US and dominate with fighters that not only are Division 1 wrestlers but also have trained with golden gloves winning boxers.

 

Really Japanese fighters need to take a step back and really work...that whole treating them like royalty in Japan, I think makes them get a big head and they think they can just come and dominate without putting in all the work like our fighters do.

 

Most US fighters getting away from the one dimension...and getting the whole fighter concept, and that is something that Japanese fighters need to do as well

[facemeltAAARGH]

^I cant find Dream though man, so my Jap-promotion days are over :(

[AnthonyOTorres]

After years of perseverance and surpassing the expectations of others, Jake Shields is headed to the UFC.

 

And while his accomplishment is very much a product of his own doing, Shields will be the first to tell you that he didn’t get to where he is alone. Among those who helped him along the way is longtime teammate and training partner Gilbert Melendez.

 

Melendez has journeyed with Shields from their start at the San Francisco Fairtex gym to Shooto to Strikeforce, where both have achieved great success earning titles in their respective weight classes.

 

“I think he’s going to do great out there,” Melendez said of Shield’s chances in the UFC. “I really want to see him fight Georges St-Pierre.

 

“I know he can beat GSP and I look forward to seeing that happen.”

 

Melendez understands the nature of the fight game and knows it’s time for Shields to move on so he can further advance his career.

 

“Of course I wish he was with me in Strikeforce, but he’s got to do what he’s got to do and I support him 100 percent,” Melendez told MMAWeekly.com.

 

“I think it’s time for him to go for broke. He already cleared out Strikeforce, so now it’s time for him to clear out the UFC.”

 

As for his own contract status, Melendez is optimistic he’ll remain where he is for some time to come.

 

“Basically I’m extending my contract with Strikeforce,” he announced. “We’re talking right now and hopefully things work out well and we can move forward and I can be part of Strikeforce for a long time.”

[AnthonyOTorres]

Bellator Fighting Championships will expand its reach to the more than one million brave American service men and women, as well as Department of Defense and other U.S. government civilians and their families stationed overseas through a new alliance with the American Forces Network.

 

Beginning this fall, all military personnel, Department of Defense civilian employees and their families stationed in 175 countries and territories overseas from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe — and aboard 140 U.S. Navy ships at sea — will be able to watch all of Bellator Seasons 2 and 3 in their entirety via satellite broadcast.

 

The 24 Bellator broadcasts will air for 24 consecutive weeks every Monday night at 9 p.m. “viewer time overseas” with Bellator Season 2 running from Sept. 6 to Nov. 22 and Bellator Season 3 running from Nov. 29 to Feb. 14.

 

Rights to air the broadcasts are being provided to the American Forces Network by Bellator free of charge.

 

“Bellator means warrior, and the finest warriors in the world today are the brave American men and women who put their lives on the line every day to defend and protect our way of life -- they are the true heroes.” said Bellator founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney. “It is an honor for Bellator to partner with the American Forces Network and to be granted the opportunity to provide our broadcasts for the enjoyment of these true warrior heroes.”

 

The American Forces Network Broadcast Center distributes more than 210,000 hours annually of radio and television programming to its well-deserving audience via an encrypted satellite signal that accommodates nine separate television services and 11 radio services.

 

According to Jeff White, the AFN Broadcast Center Executive Director, Bellator’s addition to the line up is a feather in the cap for AFN Sports programming.

 

“Given the popularity of mixed martial arts with our young warfighters, we're very pleased to welcome Bellator Fighting Championships to the AFN sports line up,” White said. “Thanks to the support of the Bellator team, every week AFN viewers stationed around the world will be able to enjoy the action and excitement of some of the best fighters, pound for pound, in MMA.”

 

The alliance between Bellator and the American Forces Network was developed with the assistance of Engine Entertainment, the international TV production and distribution company.

 

“We are delighted to add the Bellator Fighting Championship to our AFN schedule,” said Corey Slutsky, Sports Director at the American Forces Network. “AFN provides a touch of home to U.S. military service members and their families deployed around the world, and we salute Bellator and Engine Entertainment for their support of the troops.”

[AnthonyOTorres]

Jamie Varner and Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone had one of the most memorable wars in WEC history when they battled for the lightweight title back in early 2009. Ever since then it was assumed the two fighters would meet again, and on Tuesday the bout looked like it was possible.

 

Reports surfaced that the two were going to be matched up as a part of WEC 51 in September, but sources speaking to MMAWeekly.com close to both fighters have denied that they have ever been offered the bout.

 

Varner, who is recovering from his last fight against Kamal Shalorus, didn't suffer any serious injuries as first thought from his fight with the Iranian wrestling stand-out, and is looking to get back in action soon.

 

The only problem is he wants a fight with Ben Henderson for the WEC lightweight title.

 

Varner's management team from KOReps.com issued a statement to MMAWeekly.com late Tuesday night, responding to the rumors about the fight with Cerrone.

 

"We have not been contacted in regards to this bout," his management team stated. "The fight between Kamal and Jamie was supposed to gain a shot at the title. The overwhelming majority of people seem to feel Jamie definitely won the fight. A title rematch with Ben in Arizona could be great for the fans and the WEC.

 

"For more information on an upcoming bout and injuries from the last fight please look for a video blog in the coming days on www.jamievarner.com."

 

Varner lost to Henderson in early 2010, relinquishing his WEC lightweight title, and had high hopes of getting a rematch following his bout with Shalorus. He seemed like a sure victor in the fight with Shalorus, after two punishing rounds in which he knocked his opponent down in both, but a controversial judges' decision rendered the fight a draw.

 

As far as the other side of the potential fight, sources speaking with MMAWeekly.com from close to Cerrone's camp on Tuesday stated they have never been approached about a second fight with Varner either. Cerrone is rumored to return at WEC 51 in September, but no opponent has been offered at this time.

 

While the cardinal rule in MMA is never say never, this fight hasn't been scheduled yet, although it's sure to be on everyone's radar. MMAWeekly.com will have more information on this story as it becomes available.

[AnthonyOTorres]

With Strikeforce remaining steadfast in their march down legitimacy road, the San Jose, California based promotion continues exploring outside the box – yet potentially lucrative – options.

Although the company has made no formal announcement regarding their first pay-per-view broadcast, Strikeforce brass stated during yesterday’s press conference that they are more than interested in featuring a WWE reunion between Bobby Lashley and David Batista in their non-freebie debut.

“That’s not a free television bout. That’s a pay per view fight,” Strikeforce matchmaker Rich Chou told Heavy.com. “You can’t give away everything for free.”

While Lashley owns a perfect 5-0 record against the who’s-who-is-this of mixed martial arts, Batista has yet to set foot inside a professional MMA cage/ring. Furthermore, the overly chiseled Batista has been so focused on learning his new craft that he hasn’t had time to iron out a deal to join Strikeforce.

While both sides continue to negotiate the best contract possible, it hasn’t stopped company CEO Scott Coker from fantasizing about the dream match-up.

“Absolutely. That’s a pay per view fight. I believe we put on some great match-ups for the hardcore fans and the casual fans in general. When you tune in to a Strikeforce fight, you know you’re going to see some great fights,” Coker told the website. “But every once in awhile, when you get a chance to throw in a fight like this one that’s just fun to watch, why not?”