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Georges St. Pierre appeared to give the prospect of a mixed martial arts superfight with Anderson Silva the brush-off after saying he wanted to go on holiday before deciding whether to accept the bout.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight champion retained his title in a unification bout with interim champion Carlos Condit in his first. fight since suffering cruciate ligament damage last year.
But hopes of a champion v champion bout with UFC's long-time middleweight St.ar Silva were cooled, despite the Brazilian being present ringside.
"I need to take some holiday and think about it," St. Pierre immediately after the fight, to the disappointment of the crowd - and Silva, who had travelled to Canada from Brazil for the expected challenge.
In the press conference afterwards afterwards, he reiterated he needed a break to think about the prospect of the fight - and said focusing on that had been disrespectful towards his opponent.
Both Silva and UFC president Dana White said they wanted the fight to happen, but the ball was now in St. Pierre's court. White said afterwards he would give St Pierre time to recover from his title defence before bringing the superfight up again, with details - such as a venue and what weight it would be staged at - still to be considered.
Condit made St. Pierre, fighting in his native Montreal, go the distance, but was unable to break down the resolve of the reigning champion - who made his seventh defence of the title since winning it in 2007.
The interim champion rocked St. Pierre early in the third round but could not capitalise, with the judges ultimately scoring the fight by unanimous decision for the Canadian.
It was a largely comfortable return to action for St. Pierre, competing in the UFC for the first time in more than 18 months, repeatedly taking Condit down and controlling the fight from the top.
"This fight and the John Fitch fight pushed me to the edge but this was special as I'd not fought in a long time and it was at home," he said afterwards.
"I left everything I had in the octagon. I was exhausted. I fought the best I could, and I give Carlos the credit. I had a blast. It was painful, i was getting hit, but I had a lot of fun."
Fight metrics afterwards showed St. Pierre had landed 71 significant strikes to Condit's 36, despite Condit throwing more in total.
Elsewhere Johny Hendricks fired himself into contention for a shot at St. Pierre's belt, if the bout with Silva does not take place, with a stunning first-round knockout of Martin Kampmann.
The Danish welterweight was caught flush by a left hook from Hendricks that flattened him just 46 seconds into the fight.
French fighter Francis Carmont was booed by the crowd after winning a split decision from the judges over flamboyant Tom Lawlor, while Brazilian fighter Rafael dos Anjos scored the decision with a dominant performance over Mark Bocek, and Mark Hominick lost. his fourth straight UFC fight in a row - this time to Pablo Garza by decision.
On the undercard, Alessio Sakara was disqualified after repeated illegal blows to the back of opponent Patrick Cote's head. Afterwards Dana White described the referee's failure to stop the punches as 'horrible' and said he felt it should have been ruled a no contest, rather than a win for Cote.
Read more: MMA: St. Pierre cools talk of superfight after successful UFC return - The National
Follow us: @TheNationalUAE on Twitter | thenational.ae on Facebook
The Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight champion retained his title in a unification bout with interim champion Carlos Condit in his first. fight since suffering cruciate ligament damage last year.
But hopes of a champion v champion bout with UFC's long-time middleweight St.ar Silva were cooled, despite the Brazilian being present ringside.
"I need to take some holiday and think about it," St. Pierre immediately after the fight, to the disappointment of the crowd - and Silva, who had travelled to Canada from Brazil for the expected challenge.
In the press conference afterwards afterwards, he reiterated he needed a break to think about the prospect of the fight - and said focusing on that had been disrespectful towards his opponent.
Both Silva and UFC president Dana White said they wanted the fight to happen, but the ball was now in St. Pierre's court. White said afterwards he would give St Pierre time to recover from his title defence before bringing the superfight up again, with details - such as a venue and what weight it would be staged at - still to be considered.
Condit made St. Pierre, fighting in his native Montreal, go the distance, but was unable to break down the resolve of the reigning champion - who made his seventh defence of the title since winning it in 2007.
The interim champion rocked St. Pierre early in the third round but could not capitalise, with the judges ultimately scoring the fight by unanimous decision for the Canadian.
It was a largely comfortable return to action for St. Pierre, competing in the UFC for the first time in more than 18 months, repeatedly taking Condit down and controlling the fight from the top.
"This fight and the John Fitch fight pushed me to the edge but this was special as I'd not fought in a long time and it was at home," he said afterwards.
"I left everything I had in the octagon. I was exhausted. I fought the best I could, and I give Carlos the credit. I had a blast. It was painful, i was getting hit, but I had a lot of fun."
Fight metrics afterwards showed St. Pierre had landed 71 significant strikes to Condit's 36, despite Condit throwing more in total.
Elsewhere Johny Hendricks fired himself into contention for a shot at St. Pierre's belt, if the bout with Silva does not take place, with a stunning first-round knockout of Martin Kampmann.
The Danish welterweight was caught flush by a left hook from Hendricks that flattened him just 46 seconds into the fight.
French fighter Francis Carmont was booed by the crowd after winning a split decision from the judges over flamboyant Tom Lawlor, while Brazilian fighter Rafael dos Anjos scored the decision with a dominant performance over Mark Bocek, and Mark Hominick lost. his fourth straight UFC fight in a row - this time to Pablo Garza by decision.
On the undercard, Alessio Sakara was disqualified after repeated illegal blows to the back of opponent Patrick Cote's head. Afterwards Dana White described the referee's failure to stop the punches as 'horrible' and said he felt it should have been ruled a no contest, rather than a win for Cote.
Read more: MMA: St. Pierre cools talk of superfight after successful UFC return - The National
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Mixed Martial Arts matches are violent, but the audience can get more violent, according to the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.
Over the weekend, two Richland County men watching the full contact sport on Pay-Per-View got into a fight and one cut the other bad enough with a knife to send him to the hospital, spokesman Curtis Wilson said.
Deputies arrested the suspected slasher, Jason Sparks, 37, who was charged with aggravated assault.
Video from around the world
The incident in the 200 block of Bennington Court started in good fun, Wilson said.
“Three individuals were watching MMA (mixed martial arts), at which point two men got into a play match,” Wilson said. “These individuals had been drinking prior to the incident.”
After the suspect lost the play match, his cousin tried to intervene to stop any further fighting.
“The suspect then accused his cousin of going against his own family, pulled out a pocket knife with which he then cut the victim in the upper body,” Wilson said.
While the suspect and his girlfriend were taking the bleeding victim to Providence Northeast hospital, the suspect assaulted the victim again “before passing out in the back seat,” he said.
When deputies arrived at the hospital, they arrested Sparks, Wilson said.
Read more here: RICHLAND COUNTY, SC - Man stabbed while wrestling after MMA match - Crime & Courts - TheState-com
Over the weekend, two Richland County men watching the full contact sport on Pay-Per-View got into a fight and one cut the other bad enough with a knife to send him to the hospital, spokesman Curtis Wilson said.
Deputies arrested the suspected slasher, Jason Sparks, 37, who was charged with aggravated assault.
Video from around the world
The incident in the 200 block of Bennington Court started in good fun, Wilson said.
“Three individuals were watching MMA (mixed martial arts), at which point two men got into a play match,” Wilson said. “These individuals had been drinking prior to the incident.”
After the suspect lost the play match, his cousin tried to intervene to stop any further fighting.
“The suspect then accused his cousin of going against his own family, pulled out a pocket knife with which he then cut the victim in the upper body,” Wilson said.
While the suspect and his girlfriend were taking the bleeding victim to Providence Northeast hospital, the suspect assaulted the victim again “before passing out in the back seat,” he said.
When deputies arrived at the hospital, they arrested Sparks, Wilson said.
Read more here: RICHLAND COUNTY, SC - Man stabbed while wrestling after MMA match - Crime & Courts - TheState-com
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This weekend was a big weekend for the sport of mixed martial arts, as one of the sport's best-ever fighters, Canadian Georges St-Pierre, returned to action after an 18-month injury hiatus to reclaim his undisputed UFC welterweight title.
It wasn't just the return of a great athlete, it was the return of one of the sport's biggest ambassadors.
To say St-Pierre is big box office is a bit like saying Lionel Messi is "quite good" at football. He's a bona-fide superstar and a national hero. India had Sachin Tendulkar, England had David Beckham and Canada has St-Pierre.
His rise to stardom, and his approach to helping promote the sport in a positive manner, has helped propel the world's biggest MMA promotion, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), into the mainstream in North America. And its popularity is spreading across the world at a rapid rate, too, including here in the UK.
There's a growing market for the sport of MMA in this country. Gyms are cropping up all over the UK and, where kids used to train in traditional martial arts like judo, karate and jiu jitsu, many are now training in MMA, the multi-discipline sport that encompasses all of the world's top combat sports and martial arts. Spearheaded by the growth of the UFC, mixed martial arts' popularity has never been bigger, and domestic promotions put on MMA events throughout the year.
As someone covering the sport, I've seen interest and uptake of MMA content go through the roof and here at the Mirror we’ve seen a huge uptake in our live event coverage in particular, surpassing that of our other more traditionally popular sports.
With the sport on a high in North America and Brazil, and growing quickly worldwide, it’s now time the mainstream media started taking notice and giving the sport the coverage it deserves.
Too often in this country the coverage we see is negative, ill-informed and in the news pages, rather than the sports sections. The sensationalism and ill-educated references to “cage fighting”, “no holds barred fighting”, and the dismissal of MMA as a sport with no skill or class has to stop.
The truth is the athletes at the top of the sport compare with those from any other sport you care to mention. The level of physical fitness, the breadth of skills they possess and the commitment and heart they exhibit set top mixed martial artists apart as some of the greatest pure athletes in the sporting world. Take St-Pierre as an example. He possesses black belts in four martial arts: Kyokushin karate, Shidokan karate, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Gaidojutsu, He’s a skilled boxer who has been tutored by Manny Pacquiao’s legendary trainer Freddie Roach and his wrestling skills are so sharp he was considered a serious contender to compete for Canada in the London 2012 freestyle wrestling event. In short, he’s a world-class athlete in a range of disciplines.
And he’s far from the only example. Middleweight world champion Anderson Silva is considered one of the greatest combat sportsmen of all time and has been legitimately compared to the likes of Muhammad Ali and Bruce Lee. Heavyweight world champion Junior Dos Santos is a skilled boxer and mixed martial artist, while Dutch superstar Alistair Overeem is a two sport world champion, winning world titles in mixed martial arts and kickboxing.
Contrary to what some reporters might have you believe, these aren’t “cage fighters”, brain-dead bloodthirsty meatheads who just want to rip another human limb from limb. They’re world-class athletes, with elite-level skills learned over many years of intensive training and dedication to their sport. Many are college or university educated and a fair few have transitioned into MMA from other sports such as amateur wrestling, American Football and boxing. Some are even former Olympians. They’re all part of a sport that is growing rapidly across the globe and they deserve as much respect and coverage as the mainstream sports stars we’re used to reading about in the sports pages every week.
Here in the UK the market for MMA in this country is huge, but we’re lagging a few years behind our American cousins when it comes to our recognition and coverage of the sport.
And with a host of British fighters now plying their trade at the highest level in the UFC, plus a host of domestic promotions providing a legitimate breeding ground for the start of the future, the sport deserves more coverage than it’s currently getting.
Yet at the moment there’s only one national newspaper journalist – the Telegraph’s Gareth A Davies – with a remit as a mixed martial arts correspondent. That will hopefully change over time, too. While the likes of Carl Froch, Amir Khan and David Price get the newspaper column inches they deserve for their exploits in the boxing ring, their MMA equivalents, Michael Bisping, Dan Hardy and Brad Pickett, get precious little. They are no less talented and, based on fan reaction, they’re hugely popular with the fans. Hopefully things will change in the coming months and the UFC's Brits in particular start getting more coverage, but we’ll just have to wait and see.
Of course, mixed martial arts won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but then again neither is boxing, Formula 1, rugby or golf. But with popularity, attendance and participation in the sport growing in this country, the mainstream media can surely only turn a blind eye to the sport for so long.
Like many who have been switched on to the sport for a few years now, I look forward to the day when MMA, and the superb athletes who compete in the sport, get the coverage they deserve.
It wasn't just the return of a great athlete, it was the return of one of the sport's biggest ambassadors.
To say St-Pierre is big box office is a bit like saying Lionel Messi is "quite good" at football. He's a bona-fide superstar and a national hero. India had Sachin Tendulkar, England had David Beckham and Canada has St-Pierre.
His rise to stardom, and his approach to helping promote the sport in a positive manner, has helped propel the world's biggest MMA promotion, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), into the mainstream in North America. And its popularity is spreading across the world at a rapid rate, too, including here in the UK.
There's a growing market for the sport of MMA in this country. Gyms are cropping up all over the UK and, where kids used to train in traditional martial arts like judo, karate and jiu jitsu, many are now training in MMA, the multi-discipline sport that encompasses all of the world's top combat sports and martial arts. Spearheaded by the growth of the UFC, mixed martial arts' popularity has never been bigger, and domestic promotions put on MMA events throughout the year.
As someone covering the sport, I've seen interest and uptake of MMA content go through the roof and here at the Mirror we’ve seen a huge uptake in our live event coverage in particular, surpassing that of our other more traditionally popular sports.
With the sport on a high in North America and Brazil, and growing quickly worldwide, it’s now time the mainstream media started taking notice and giving the sport the coverage it deserves.
Too often in this country the coverage we see is negative, ill-informed and in the news pages, rather than the sports sections. The sensationalism and ill-educated references to “cage fighting”, “no holds barred fighting”, and the dismissal of MMA as a sport with no skill or class has to stop.
The truth is the athletes at the top of the sport compare with those from any other sport you care to mention. The level of physical fitness, the breadth of skills they possess and the commitment and heart they exhibit set top mixed martial artists apart as some of the greatest pure athletes in the sporting world. Take St-Pierre as an example. He possesses black belts in four martial arts: Kyokushin karate, Shidokan karate, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Gaidojutsu, He’s a skilled boxer who has been tutored by Manny Pacquiao’s legendary trainer Freddie Roach and his wrestling skills are so sharp he was considered a serious contender to compete for Canada in the London 2012 freestyle wrestling event. In short, he’s a world-class athlete in a range of disciplines.
And he’s far from the only example. Middleweight world champion Anderson Silva is considered one of the greatest combat sportsmen of all time and has been legitimately compared to the likes of Muhammad Ali and Bruce Lee. Heavyweight world champion Junior Dos Santos is a skilled boxer and mixed martial artist, while Dutch superstar Alistair Overeem is a two sport world champion, winning world titles in mixed martial arts and kickboxing.
Contrary to what some reporters might have you believe, these aren’t “cage fighters”, brain-dead bloodthirsty meatheads who just want to rip another human limb from limb. They’re world-class athletes, with elite-level skills learned over many years of intensive training and dedication to their sport. Many are college or university educated and a fair few have transitioned into MMA from other sports such as amateur wrestling, American Football and boxing. Some are even former Olympians. They’re all part of a sport that is growing rapidly across the globe and they deserve as much respect and coverage as the mainstream sports stars we’re used to reading about in the sports pages every week.
Here in the UK the market for MMA in this country is huge, but we’re lagging a few years behind our American cousins when it comes to our recognition and coverage of the sport.
And with a host of British fighters now plying their trade at the highest level in the UFC, plus a host of domestic promotions providing a legitimate breeding ground for the start of the future, the sport deserves more coverage than it’s currently getting.
Yet at the moment there’s only one national newspaper journalist – the Telegraph’s Gareth A Davies – with a remit as a mixed martial arts correspondent. That will hopefully change over time, too. While the likes of Carl Froch, Amir Khan and David Price get the newspaper column inches they deserve for their exploits in the boxing ring, their MMA equivalents, Michael Bisping, Dan Hardy and Brad Pickett, get precious little. They are no less talented and, based on fan reaction, they’re hugely popular with the fans. Hopefully things will change in the coming months and the UFC's Brits in particular start getting more coverage, but we’ll just have to wait and see.
Of course, mixed martial arts won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but then again neither is boxing, Formula 1, rugby or golf. But with popularity, attendance and participation in the sport growing in this country, the mainstream media can surely only turn a blind eye to the sport for so long.
Like many who have been switched on to the sport for a few years now, I look forward to the day when MMA, and the superb athletes who compete in the sport, get the coverage they deserve.
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2006/12/07
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A year ago, when Jaren Williams first started training with Elite Mixed Martial Arts, the gym, which is located on Winchester Avenue, had a pair of punching bags, a speed back, a small section of a cage and a few mats.
"When Jaren first came in, we knew he had good hands and great boxing. All we had to do was work on the kicks and the ground game," Elite MMA coach Jesse Kirby said.
Those humble beginnings for Williams and Elite MMA have resulted in a flyweight championship and a successful title defense in a submission victory Saturday for Williams (5-2) and a new location for the Elite MMA team.
Williams initially won the flyweight title on Sept. 15, but he did not have to fight due to a forfeit that awarded him the belt.
With the belt in his possession heading into last Saturday's fight with Eddie Green, Williams was ready for the test.
"There was a lot of training, lots of cardio," Williams said. "I was constantly working on strength, conditioning, striking and my ground game."
During the fight, Williams took two minutes of punishment from Green, who was on top of him throwing punches.
"I hadn't taken punches like that before," Williams said. "After taking those punches, I was able to seize an opportunity."
The opportunity came as Green made a mistake that allowed Williams to escape and reverse a rear naked choke attempt for the first-round win.
"He was taking some punches for the first two minutes and then he 'turtled up' in going on his arms and knees," Kirby said. "Green then went in too high for the rear naked choke, and Jaren snuck around and locked his submission in."
"It feels good to get the win," Williams said of the championship defense. "It's another service win, which is great."
Williams also was excited for Elite MMA's coming move to Extreme Sportsplex on Dec. 1, which includes a professional size octagon and more punching bags and speed bags, which are currently in use at Elite MMA.
"I am excited for the move," Williams said. "There's a lot more equipment I can use to become a better fighter in the future."
"The move is going to be good for every one of the fighters," Kirby said. "There's plenty of room for us to work on different aspects such as jiu jitsu, the karate classes also taught currently in the gym we have.
"We won't have to worry about the space because of the great location, and it only gets better from here."
Williams is expected to have another title defense in the next few months and has future aspirations to become a professional.
Elite MMA
"When Jaren first came in, we knew he had good hands and great boxing. All we had to do was work on the kicks and the ground game," Elite MMA coach Jesse Kirby said.
Those humble beginnings for Williams and Elite MMA have resulted in a flyweight championship and a successful title defense in a submission victory Saturday for Williams (5-2) and a new location for the Elite MMA team.
Williams initially won the flyweight title on Sept. 15, but he did not have to fight due to a forfeit that awarded him the belt.
With the belt in his possession heading into last Saturday's fight with Eddie Green, Williams was ready for the test.
"There was a lot of training, lots of cardio," Williams said. "I was constantly working on strength, conditioning, striking and my ground game."
During the fight, Williams took two minutes of punishment from Green, who was on top of him throwing punches.
"I hadn't taken punches like that before," Williams said. "After taking those punches, I was able to seize an opportunity."
The opportunity came as Green made a mistake that allowed Williams to escape and reverse a rear naked choke attempt for the first-round win.
"He was taking some punches for the first two minutes and then he 'turtled up' in going on his arms and knees," Kirby said. "Green then went in too high for the rear naked choke, and Jaren snuck around and locked his submission in."
"It feels good to get the win," Williams said of the championship defense. "It's another service win, which is great."
Williams also was excited for Elite MMA's coming move to Extreme Sportsplex on Dec. 1, which includes a professional size octagon and more punching bags and speed bags, which are currently in use at Elite MMA.
"I am excited for the move," Williams said. "There's a lot more equipment I can use to become a better fighter in the future."
"The move is going to be good for every one of the fighters," Kirby said. "There's plenty of room for us to work on different aspects such as jiu jitsu, the karate classes also taught currently in the gym we have.
"We won't have to worry about the space because of the great location, and it only gets better from here."
Williams is expected to have another title defense in the next few months and has future aspirations to become a professional.
Elite MMA
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Heavyweight Thiago Silva has failed his UFC on FUEL TV 6 post-fight drug screen.
UFC officials announced Wednesday that Silva tested positive for marijuana metabolites and has been suspended six months and ordered to take part in drug rehab program.
Silva competed in the co-main event of the Nov. 10 event and earned a third-round submission victory over Stanislav Nedkov.
"Thiago Silva tested positive for marijuana metabolites following his bout at UFC on FUEL TV in Macau," the organization's statement read. "The UFC organization has a strict, consistent policy against the use of any illegal and/or performance-enhancing drugs, stimulants or masking agents.
"Silva has admitted to taking the banned substance and has agreed to participate in an approved drug-rehabilitation program and serve a six-month suspension retroactive to the November 10 event. He must pass a drug test upon completion of the suspension before receiving clearance to fight again."
MMAjunkie-com later confirmed with UFC officials that Silva was not issued any financial penalty. However, the result of the bout will be overturned to a "no decision."
Featuring a headlining bout between Cung Le and Rich Franklin, UFC on FUEL TV 6 took place Nov. 10 at Venetian Macau Resort Hote's CotaiArena in Macau. In the absence of an athletic commission to govern the event, UFC officials took the role of overseeing the fight card.
Silva, of course, also failed a post UFC-125 drug test in January 2011. After dominating Brandon Vera to earn a decision win at the event, Silva was suspended and fined by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for submitting a fake urine sample.
Thiago Silva suspended by UFC after failing drug test
UFC officials announced Wednesday that Silva tested positive for marijuana metabolites and has been suspended six months and ordered to take part in drug rehab program.
Silva competed in the co-main event of the Nov. 10 event and earned a third-round submission victory over Stanislav Nedkov.
"Thiago Silva tested positive for marijuana metabolites following his bout at UFC on FUEL TV in Macau," the organization's statement read. "The UFC organization has a strict, consistent policy against the use of any illegal and/or performance-enhancing drugs, stimulants or masking agents.
"Silva has admitted to taking the banned substance and has agreed to participate in an approved drug-rehabilitation program and serve a six-month suspension retroactive to the November 10 event. He must pass a drug test upon completion of the suspension before receiving clearance to fight again."
MMAjunkie-com later confirmed with UFC officials that Silva was not issued any financial penalty. However, the result of the bout will be overturned to a "no decision."
Featuring a headlining bout between Cung Le and Rich Franklin, UFC on FUEL TV 6 took place Nov. 10 at Venetian Macau Resort Hote's CotaiArena in Macau. In the absence of an athletic commission to govern the event, UFC officials took the role of overseeing the fight card.
Silva, of course, also failed a post UFC-125 drug test in January 2011. After dominating Brandon Vera to earn a decision win at the event, Silva was suspended and fined by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for submitting a fake urine sample.
Thiago Silva suspended by UFC after failing drug test
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A big left hand followed by a five-round war helped the picture came back into focus at 170 pounds.
UFC 154's top two fights demonstrated both that Georges St-Pierre, the champion since April 19, 2008, is still unquestionably the man to beat in the weight class, and with his one-punch knockout and fifth consecutive win, Johny Hendricks has earned his way to the number-one contenders position.
That's clear from the latest SB Nation welterweight rankings, as the champion, winner of 10 straight fights, swept all six first-place votes to take a no-brainer first place.
Hendricks, meanwhile, claimed five of six second-place votes to take second with 53 points.
Condit, meanwhile, didn't fall far after his 25-minute, all-out battle in a losing effort against St-Pierre at UFC 154. Four of six pollsters voted the former WEC champ and UFC interim champ third, enough to give him that third spot with 48 points overall.
Each fighter ranked from fourth through eighth were named on all six ballots. Jon Fitch, coming off his win over Erick Silva, took fourth place with 35 points. Meanwhile, just three points separated fifth place from eighth, as Martin Kampmann taking fifth with 30 points, followed by Jake Ellenberger with 29, Josh Koscheck with 28, and Rory MacDonald with 27.
Strikeforce champ Nate Marquardt claimed ninth place and Demian Maia rounded out the list at 10th.
Read More: SB Nation welterweight rankings: Georges St-Pierre still the one - MMA Fighting
UFC 154's top two fights demonstrated both that Georges St-Pierre, the champion since April 19, 2008, is still unquestionably the man to beat in the weight class, and with his one-punch knockout and fifth consecutive win, Johny Hendricks has earned his way to the number-one contenders position.
That's clear from the latest SB Nation welterweight rankings, as the champion, winner of 10 straight fights, swept all six first-place votes to take a no-brainer first place.
Hendricks, meanwhile, claimed five of six second-place votes to take second with 53 points.
Condit, meanwhile, didn't fall far after his 25-minute, all-out battle in a losing effort against St-Pierre at UFC 154. Four of six pollsters voted the former WEC champ and UFC interim champ third, enough to give him that third spot with 48 points overall.
Each fighter ranked from fourth through eighth were named on all six ballots. Jon Fitch, coming off his win over Erick Silva, took fourth place with 35 points. Meanwhile, just three points separated fifth place from eighth, as Martin Kampmann taking fifth with 30 points, followed by Jake Ellenberger with 29, Josh Koscheck with 28, and Rory MacDonald with 27.
Strikeforce champ Nate Marquardt claimed ninth place and Demian Maia rounded out the list at 10th.
Read More: SB Nation welterweight rankings: Georges St-Pierre still the one - MMA Fighting
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Two fighters looking to get into the UFC used their fists, feet and elbows to argue strong cases in their behalf in the two main matches on Friday's Score Fighting Championships 7 show.
Jordan "Young Guns" Mein (26-8), a welterweight currently under contract to Strikeforce, and waiting to find out what that exactly means, finished former UFC fighter Forrest Petz (25-10) in just 1:29. Mein used an all-out barrage from the start of the fight at the Hamilton Place Theater in Hamilton, Ont., Canada.
Meanwhile, Jesse "The Body Snatcher" Ronson (12-2), a lightweight from London, Ont., used an arsenal of clean punches and kicks for three rounds to win a lopsided decision over Team Quest product Ryan Healy (23-12-1) on scores of 30-26, 30-25 and 30-27.
Mein, allowed by Strikeforce management to take the fight since Strikeforce hasn't been able to book him with two shows canceled, hurt Petz early and Petz never got untracked. He threw punches and knees until Petz went down, and followed with piston-like punches, and then knees and elbows, until ref Yves Lavigne stepped in.
"I had to respect his power, that's why I was sticking and moving a little, but once I landed a couple of elbows that I felt was hurting him, I kept attacking," said Mein.
When asked about what his future was with Strikeforce finishing up and no definite word on how many of its fighters will be absorbed into UFC, the 23-year-old Mein had no answer.
"I don't know yet," he said. "I was very thankful they let me out (to take this fight) and The Score put me in the main event."
A loss here would have greatly reduced the odds of him being brought into UFC. But if an impressive showing here was going to get him in, he passed that test with flying colors.
Ronson used his kickboxing style that doesn't include low kicks, a throwback to the old Pro Karate Association days, to dominate Healy, who took a beating but never broke mentally. Ronson dominated the stand-up game, but Healy continued to fight back until the end, even though battered, scoring several takedowns. Healy was still punching back until the bell rang to end the fight. Both fighters received standing ovations, Ronson for his clean technique and damage done, and Healy for toughness.
"I did throw everything, I wished I was a little more relaxed and I had a little more snap, but it did the job," Ronson said. "This guy is really harder than a copper nail. I want to know what he's made of. I want to see some doctor testing him. All I want for Christmas is a UFC contract, but who knows what's going to happen."
Ronson and Healy tore down the house even though they had to follow a Will Romero vs. Tristan Johnson standing war that would have been the best fight on 95 percent of major MMA shows. In the second meeting between the two fighters, Johnson won again, a split decision on scores of 28-29, 30-27 and 30-27.
The two Canadian featherweights battled nonstop for three rounds, going back-and-forth in a fight that could have been judged either way. Johnson (8-3), had the reach edge, but Romero (9-4) busted Johnson near the right eye in the second round and landed some big shots in the third. The second and third rounds were close. Johnson clearly won the first round, scoring the fights only knockdown early in round one with a right hook.
The fight was a rematch of a thrilling bout Johnson won via decision on the first Score Fighting Series show on June 10, 2011. The sequel was even better.
"Will's a hell of a fighter," said Johnson. "I respect all you guys over here because you stuck up for your hometown fighter. I love you guys even though you don't love me.
"I feel on top of the world," he continued. "I don't care what my face looks like, I feel great, baby."
Alex Ricci (6-1) won the second and third round through better striking to take a straight 29-28 decision over Kevin Morin (6-5) in a lightweight battle.
Jason Saggo (8-1) scored with a rear-naked choke submission over Iraj Hadin (6-5-1) at 3:41 of the second round in a lightweight battle.
In the main card opener, hometown favorite Ryan Dickson (5-0) won via choke submission over Brandt Dewsbery (10-2-1) at 4:50 of the second round in a welterweight fight.
Jordan Mein, Jesse Ronson state physical case for getting into UFC - MMA Fighting
Jordan "Young Guns" Mein (26-8), a welterweight currently under contract to Strikeforce, and waiting to find out what that exactly means, finished former UFC fighter Forrest Petz (25-10) in just 1:29. Mein used an all-out barrage from the start of the fight at the Hamilton Place Theater in Hamilton, Ont., Canada.
Meanwhile, Jesse "The Body Snatcher" Ronson (12-2), a lightweight from London, Ont., used an arsenal of clean punches and kicks for three rounds to win a lopsided decision over Team Quest product Ryan Healy (23-12-1) on scores of 30-26, 30-25 and 30-27.
Mein, allowed by Strikeforce management to take the fight since Strikeforce hasn't been able to book him with two shows canceled, hurt Petz early and Petz never got untracked. He threw punches and knees until Petz went down, and followed with piston-like punches, and then knees and elbows, until ref Yves Lavigne stepped in.
"I had to respect his power, that's why I was sticking and moving a little, but once I landed a couple of elbows that I felt was hurting him, I kept attacking," said Mein.
When asked about what his future was with Strikeforce finishing up and no definite word on how many of its fighters will be absorbed into UFC, the 23-year-old Mein had no answer.
"I don't know yet," he said. "I was very thankful they let me out (to take this fight) and The Score put me in the main event."
A loss here would have greatly reduced the odds of him being brought into UFC. But if an impressive showing here was going to get him in, he passed that test with flying colors.
Ronson used his kickboxing style that doesn't include low kicks, a throwback to the old Pro Karate Association days, to dominate Healy, who took a beating but never broke mentally. Ronson dominated the stand-up game, but Healy continued to fight back until the end, even though battered, scoring several takedowns. Healy was still punching back until the bell rang to end the fight. Both fighters received standing ovations, Ronson for his clean technique and damage done, and Healy for toughness.
"I did throw everything, I wished I was a little more relaxed and I had a little more snap, but it did the job," Ronson said. "This guy is really harder than a copper nail. I want to know what he's made of. I want to see some doctor testing him. All I want for Christmas is a UFC contract, but who knows what's going to happen."
Ronson and Healy tore down the house even though they had to follow a Will Romero vs. Tristan Johnson standing war that would have been the best fight on 95 percent of major MMA shows. In the second meeting between the two fighters, Johnson won again, a split decision on scores of 28-29, 30-27 and 30-27.
The two Canadian featherweights battled nonstop for three rounds, going back-and-forth in a fight that could have been judged either way. Johnson (8-3), had the reach edge, but Romero (9-4) busted Johnson near the right eye in the second round and landed some big shots in the third. The second and third rounds were close. Johnson clearly won the first round, scoring the fights only knockdown early in round one with a right hook.
The fight was a rematch of a thrilling bout Johnson won via decision on the first Score Fighting Series show on June 10, 2011. The sequel was even better.
"Will's a hell of a fighter," said Johnson. "I respect all you guys over here because you stuck up for your hometown fighter. I love you guys even though you don't love me.
"I feel on top of the world," he continued. "I don't care what my face looks like, I feel great, baby."
Alex Ricci (6-1) won the second and third round through better striking to take a straight 29-28 decision over Kevin Morin (6-5) in a lightweight battle.
Jason Saggo (8-1) scored with a rear-naked choke submission over Iraj Hadin (6-5-1) at 3:41 of the second round in a lightweight battle.
In the main card opener, hometown favorite Ryan Dickson (5-0) won via choke submission over Brandt Dewsbery (10-2-1) at 4:50 of the second round in a welterweight fight.
Jordan Mein, Jesse Ronson state physical case for getting into UFC - MMA Fighting
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Tony Florio, co-owner of East Coast United Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Fairfield, says that when Mclynn "Mac" (prounounced "Mach") Cadiente walked into his gym a year and a half ago he knew the Norwalk product had the makings of a fighter.
Florio, who the owns the gym with Joe Oppedisano, has been training mixed martial arts fighters for more than six years and he recognized the potential in Cadiente, who earlier this month participated in his first amateur MMA bout in Chicopee, Mass.
"When Mac came to the gym, right off the bat I could tell that he had some talent in him," Florio, 28 said. "He seemed like a natural fighter. He's a really scrappy kid. He told me that he'd gotten into a couple scuffles in high school and what not, and I could tell just from watching him in the gym that this kid already had natural fighter talent."
Cadiente, 21, weighs 145 pounds and is not physically imposing, Florio said. But his relatively slight frame is deceptive.
"He's a little bit of a smaller guy, but he's got great power in his hands and he's got very, very powerful kicks," Florio said.
East Coast United has additional branches in White Plains, Queens, and The Bronx. All fighters who come in with aspirations of a professional career are put through an intensive six-to-eight week training program, aimed to build on a fighter's pre-existing strengths and to fill in the holes in their mixed martial arts skill set.
Cadiente is a stand-up fighter whose strengths are punching and kicking.
"He really never trained in the grappling portion of mixed martial arts, which are wrestling, judo and jiu-jitsu," Florio said.
Prior to his first amateur match against Anthony Jerome, a former college wrestler, Cadiente boned up on jiu-jitsu and wrestling.
"I really knew I was going to have the standup advantage, because I knew he was going to be a wrestler," Cadiente said. "The fight went pretty well during the standup part, until he took me down and there's really nothing I could do about it, because he was a Division I wrestler and I couldn't get back to my feet."
Cadiente lost a three-round split decision, but his coach said the overall experience was a positive first step in his fighter's burgeoning career.
"You could tell this kid wanted no part of the fight standing up," Florio said of Jerome. "So Mac got a little overzealous and the guy shot in for a few good takedowns and really just laid on top of him for about two rounds and really didn't do anything."
Cadiente, a Norwalk High School graduate who works for Bailey Tree service in Fairfield, said he wasn't nervous prior to his first amateur fight.
"I definitely fought before, so I wasn't that nervous. But the crowd and the whole lights, that was kind of weird," Cadiente said.
For their student's next fight, Florio said he and Oppedisano will try to find an opponent who has a similar stand-up approach, which will allow both fighters to exhibit their strengths. Cadiente's next amateur fight might come in February or March, perhaps through the same promoters, Warrior Nation Xtreme Fighters Alliance.
In the meantime Cadiente and his trainers will work on rounding out his fighting repertoire. They already know his strengths -- boxing and Thai kickboxing (or Muay Thai) -- so they want to focus on strengthening his grappling game.
"I also want to focus on his takedown defense, so he can try to dictate the pace of the fight and keep the fight standing up, because his strength is punches and kicks," Florio said. "I want him to be able to add a submission move to his game plan as well."
After that Cadiente might embark on a professional fighting career.
"He's got what it takes," Florio said.
Norwalk's Cadiente begins his MMA dream - Norwalk Citizen
Florio, who the owns the gym with Joe Oppedisano, has been training mixed martial arts fighters for more than six years and he recognized the potential in Cadiente, who earlier this month participated in his first amateur MMA bout in Chicopee, Mass.
"When Mac came to the gym, right off the bat I could tell that he had some talent in him," Florio, 28 said. "He seemed like a natural fighter. He's a really scrappy kid. He told me that he'd gotten into a couple scuffles in high school and what not, and I could tell just from watching him in the gym that this kid already had natural fighter talent."
Cadiente, 21, weighs 145 pounds and is not physically imposing, Florio said. But his relatively slight frame is deceptive.
"He's a little bit of a smaller guy, but he's got great power in his hands and he's got very, very powerful kicks," Florio said.
East Coast United has additional branches in White Plains, Queens, and The Bronx. All fighters who come in with aspirations of a professional career are put through an intensive six-to-eight week training program, aimed to build on a fighter's pre-existing strengths and to fill in the holes in their mixed martial arts skill set.
Cadiente is a stand-up fighter whose strengths are punching and kicking.
"He really never trained in the grappling portion of mixed martial arts, which are wrestling, judo and jiu-jitsu," Florio said.
Prior to his first amateur match against Anthony Jerome, a former college wrestler, Cadiente boned up on jiu-jitsu and wrestling.
"I really knew I was going to have the standup advantage, because I knew he was going to be a wrestler," Cadiente said. "The fight went pretty well during the standup part, until he took me down and there's really nothing I could do about it, because he was a Division I wrestler and I couldn't get back to my feet."
Cadiente lost a three-round split decision, but his coach said the overall experience was a positive first step in his fighter's burgeoning career.
"You could tell this kid wanted no part of the fight standing up," Florio said of Jerome. "So Mac got a little overzealous and the guy shot in for a few good takedowns and really just laid on top of him for about two rounds and really didn't do anything."
Cadiente, a Norwalk High School graduate who works for Bailey Tree service in Fairfield, said he wasn't nervous prior to his first amateur fight.
"I definitely fought before, so I wasn't that nervous. But the crowd and the whole lights, that was kind of weird," Cadiente said.
For their student's next fight, Florio said he and Oppedisano will try to find an opponent who has a similar stand-up approach, which will allow both fighters to exhibit their strengths. Cadiente's next amateur fight might come in February or March, perhaps through the same promoters, Warrior Nation Xtreme Fighters Alliance.
In the meantime Cadiente and his trainers will work on rounding out his fighting repertoire. They already know his strengths -- boxing and Thai kickboxing (or Muay Thai) -- so they want to focus on strengthening his grappling game.
"I also want to focus on his takedown defense, so he can try to dictate the pace of the fight and keep the fight standing up, because his strength is punches and kicks," Florio said. "I want him to be able to add a submission move to his game plan as well."
After that Cadiente might embark on a professional fighting career.
"He's got what it takes," Florio said.
Norwalk's Cadiente begins his MMA dream - Norwalk Citizen
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What looked to be a blowout final show of the Strikeforce promotion on Jan. 12, is now just a final show with two championship fights having fallen off the card.
In the wake of the original main event, Gilbert Melendez's lightweight title defense with Pat Healy, falling through due to an injury, the new main event of Luke Rockhold defending the middleweight title against Lorenz Larkin is also off the show.
While no official announcement has been made by Showtime or Strikeforce officials, the belief from those close to the promotion is the show, scheduled at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, will still proceed. Nate Marquardt's welterweight title defense against Tarec Saffiedine will move to the main event slot.
Two other key matches still on the lineup are Strikeforce heavyweight Grand Prix champion Daniel Cormier, who was a college wrestling star at Oklahoma State, facing Dion Staring, and a recently added Gegard Mousasi vs. Mike Kyle light heavyweight bout.
Showtime had pulled out of televising the two previously scheduled Strikeforce shows, which led to both being canceled. The Sept. 29 date was pulled due to Melendez, scheduled to face Healy, suffering a shoulder injury in training. A Nov. 3 date in Oklahoma City was canceled when Rockhold, as well as Frank Mir, who was to face Cormier, were both injured.
According to sources close to the fighter, Rockhold (10-1) is off the show because the wrist injury that caused the cancellation of his original fight with Larkin (13-0, 1 no contest) hadn't healed well enough for him train on it. In an interview with Rockhold before the fight was announced, he was hoping, but not certain, that he would be ready to fight by late January. The show being held a few weeks earlier put a monkey wrench in that original timetable. MMA Corner first reported the story of Rockhold's absence from show.
Rockhold was scheduled to make his third defense of a title he had won on September 10, 2011, in Cincinnati, taking a five-round decision from Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza. He had since retained it with a first round stoppage of Keith Jardine and a five-round decision win over Tim Kennedy.
Larkin was disappointed, tweeting Dana White on Sunday, "Hey Dana, I hurt my right pinky toe, guess I can't fight, wish I started two years before I did so I could have skipped this p***y era."
He sent White a second tweet, saying, "Or can you give me that Black Friday price for the SF belt."
Larkin was stopped in the second round by Rockhold's frequent training partner, "King" Mo Lawal, in a light heavyweight fight in January. However, when Lawal tested positive for the steroid Drostanolone, the result of the fight was changed to a no-contest. Larkin then dropped to middleweight and earned a title shot by defeating Robbie Lawler.
The injury almost certainly means Rockhold will, when healed, go into UFC as the final Strikeforce middleweight champion.
Luke Rockhold out of next Strikeforce show - MMA Fighting
In the wake of the original main event, Gilbert Melendez's lightweight title defense with Pat Healy, falling through due to an injury, the new main event of Luke Rockhold defending the middleweight title against Lorenz Larkin is also off the show.
While no official announcement has been made by Showtime or Strikeforce officials, the belief from those close to the promotion is the show, scheduled at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, will still proceed. Nate Marquardt's welterweight title defense against Tarec Saffiedine will move to the main event slot.
Two other key matches still on the lineup are Strikeforce heavyweight Grand Prix champion Daniel Cormier, who was a college wrestling star at Oklahoma State, facing Dion Staring, and a recently added Gegard Mousasi vs. Mike Kyle light heavyweight bout.
Showtime had pulled out of televising the two previously scheduled Strikeforce shows, which led to both being canceled. The Sept. 29 date was pulled due to Melendez, scheduled to face Healy, suffering a shoulder injury in training. A Nov. 3 date in Oklahoma City was canceled when Rockhold, as well as Frank Mir, who was to face Cormier, were both injured.
According to sources close to the fighter, Rockhold (10-1) is off the show because the wrist injury that caused the cancellation of his original fight with Larkin (13-0, 1 no contest) hadn't healed well enough for him train on it. In an interview with Rockhold before the fight was announced, he was hoping, but not certain, that he would be ready to fight by late January. The show being held a few weeks earlier put a monkey wrench in that original timetable. MMA Corner first reported the story of Rockhold's absence from show.
Rockhold was scheduled to make his third defense of a title he had won on September 10, 2011, in Cincinnati, taking a five-round decision from Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza. He had since retained it with a first round stoppage of Keith Jardine and a five-round decision win over Tim Kennedy.
Larkin was disappointed, tweeting Dana White on Sunday, "Hey Dana, I hurt my right pinky toe, guess I can't fight, wish I started two years before I did so I could have skipped this p***y era."
He sent White a second tweet, saying, "Or can you give me that Black Friday price for the SF belt."
Larkin was stopped in the second round by Rockhold's frequent training partner, "King" Mo Lawal, in a light heavyweight fight in January. However, when Lawal tested positive for the steroid Drostanolone, the result of the fight was changed to a no-contest. Larkin then dropped to middleweight and earned a title shot by defeating Robbie Lawler.
The injury almost certainly means Rockhold will, when healed, go into UFC as the final Strikeforce middleweight champion.
Luke Rockhold out of next Strikeforce show - MMA Fighting
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The Quade Cooper circus seems to have now settled on a February cruiser weight boxing fight, with the rest of his future still up in the air.
But is Australia’s most mercurial of sportsman selling himself short by settling in the boxing world? Could the bad boy of rugby in fact make the switch to the fastest growing sport in the world, MMA?
Could Cooper wind up with a larger international profile and, in return, a deeper hip pocket if he decided to instead step into the octagon?
Cooper stands at 6 foot 1 and currently weighs in at 92kgs, or 203 pounds, putting him roughly in the middleweight division once he cuts for weigh in. Ideally though, he could drop some of the excess muscle mass and wind up a fairly decent sized welterweight.
Combine that with his rat’s tail and arm of tats and Cooper is beginning to look more and more at home in the octagon.
But can he actually fight?
Well, straight off the bat Cooper is an amazing physical specimen and yes, theoretically he could make it in MMA.
He is agile, has speed to burn and on his day he has one of the finest, aggressive sporting brains in the country.
For all his faults and flaws, Anthony Mundine has clearly shown us that this kind of skill set can transfer over to combat sports in the boxing ring.
Cooper’s kicking and stepping ability suggest strong lower body coordination, which could translate into not just stand-up kicking but also help the development of a strong jujitsu game.
Finally, as a rugby player Cooper would already poses some basics in wrestling, an indisputable cornerstone of any MMA fighter’s arsenal.
In a broader sense, if Australia’s most controversial sportsman was to move to the octagon, it would be a coming of age event for the sport in this country, exposing MMA to the mainstream sports media in a way it has never done before.
Unfortunately though, while Cooper theoretically may have the skills and physique to make the switch, it would have to be a far longer term plan than the hit and giggle outing February’s boxing match is shaping up to be.
Boxing’s far more focused skill set lends itself to the quick transition Cooper will be looking at, far more than the much broader arsenal of a mixed martial artist.
Furthermore Cooper’s large profile across Australia and New Zealand would count for little if he wanted to focus on fighting in the UFC.
While he might end up earning more on the global stage there than in the boxing ring, he would have to reach it fighting on his merits, not relying his current fame.
Honestly, a move to MMA would come totally out of the blue for Cooper, who will most likely cruise through February’s fight and then take a cushy, cashed-up contract with a European rugby club before Australian rugby comes to its senses or an NRL side squeezes him under their salary cap.
But with Cooper, a sportsman who made his name from taking the unconventional option, you can never quite say never.
Could Quade Cooper fight in MMA? | The Roar
But is Australia’s most mercurial of sportsman selling himself short by settling in the boxing world? Could the bad boy of rugby in fact make the switch to the fastest growing sport in the world, MMA?
Could Cooper wind up with a larger international profile and, in return, a deeper hip pocket if he decided to instead step into the octagon?
Cooper stands at 6 foot 1 and currently weighs in at 92kgs, or 203 pounds, putting him roughly in the middleweight division once he cuts for weigh in. Ideally though, he could drop some of the excess muscle mass and wind up a fairly decent sized welterweight.
Combine that with his rat’s tail and arm of tats and Cooper is beginning to look more and more at home in the octagon.
But can he actually fight?
Well, straight off the bat Cooper is an amazing physical specimen and yes, theoretically he could make it in MMA.
He is agile, has speed to burn and on his day he has one of the finest, aggressive sporting brains in the country.
For all his faults and flaws, Anthony Mundine has clearly shown us that this kind of skill set can transfer over to combat sports in the boxing ring.
Cooper’s kicking and stepping ability suggest strong lower body coordination, which could translate into not just stand-up kicking but also help the development of a strong jujitsu game.
Finally, as a rugby player Cooper would already poses some basics in wrestling, an indisputable cornerstone of any MMA fighter’s arsenal.
In a broader sense, if Australia’s most controversial sportsman was to move to the octagon, it would be a coming of age event for the sport in this country, exposing MMA to the mainstream sports media in a way it has never done before.
Unfortunately though, while Cooper theoretically may have the skills and physique to make the switch, it would have to be a far longer term plan than the hit and giggle outing February’s boxing match is shaping up to be.
Boxing’s far more focused skill set lends itself to the quick transition Cooper will be looking at, far more than the much broader arsenal of a mixed martial artist.
Furthermore Cooper’s large profile across Australia and New Zealand would count for little if he wanted to focus on fighting in the UFC.
While he might end up earning more on the global stage there than in the boxing ring, he would have to reach it fighting on his merits, not relying his current fame.
Honestly, a move to MMA would come totally out of the blue for Cooper, who will most likely cruise through February’s fight and then take a cushy, cashed-up contract with a European rugby club before Australian rugby comes to its senses or an NRL side squeezes him under their salary cap.
But with Cooper, a sportsman who made his name from taking the unconventional option, you can never quite say never.
Could Quade Cooper fight in MMA? | The Roar
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Brian Stann may very well be the most humble guy competing in mixed martial arts today. This is a man who’s been there, done that and saved a few lives along the way. As a fighter, he’s already accomplished some impressive feats like winning a WEC title and handily disposing of Chris Leben, Jorge Santiago and Alessio Sakara.
The man even owns a Silver Star for heaven’s sake. For those that don’t know, that’s the nation's third-highest award for valor in combat.
This is a guy who has, by all accounts, earned the right to behave anyway he feels. If he wanted to walk around with his nose in the air and his mind far from the insignificant civilians, he could, and no one would say a thing about it.
But Brian Stann doesn’t walk around with his nose in the air, and he doesn’t think he’s any better than the next man. He’s a compassionate fighter who competes to be the best, not to intentionally inflict an absurd amount of punishment on his opponents, not to showboat and not to throw his accomplishments in anyone’s face.
The “All American” redefines the humble fighter. Read More: Brian Stann and the 20 Most Humble MMA Fighters | Bleacher Report
The man even owns a Silver Star for heaven’s sake. For those that don’t know, that’s the nation's third-highest award for valor in combat.
This is a guy who has, by all accounts, earned the right to behave anyway he feels. If he wanted to walk around with his nose in the air and his mind far from the insignificant civilians, he could, and no one would say a thing about it.
But Brian Stann doesn’t walk around with his nose in the air, and he doesn’t think he’s any better than the next man. He’s a compassionate fighter who competes to be the best, not to intentionally inflict an absurd amount of punishment on his opponents, not to showboat and not to throw his accomplishments in anyone’s face.
The “All American” redefines the humble fighter. Read More: Brian Stann and the 20 Most Humble MMA Fighters | Bleacher Report
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Some of Russia’s top promoters are eager to offer a contract to former MMA champ, Rasul Mirzaev, who was found guilty of reckless manslaughter on Tuesday, but released in court as he had already served 15 months in a detention facility.
******“We'd love to work with him,” Ruslan Sunovarov, general director of Oscar promotion company told Izvestia newspaper. “He is a very interesting and promising athlete. Rasul is a decent guy and he already received his punishment.”
The president of M-1 Global, Vadim Finkelstein, who used to work with Fedor Emelianenko, also doesn’t rule out the possibility of signing Mirzaev.
"As a fighter, he is interesting to us,” he stressed. “If he is able to behave well for some time then we’ll be able to work with him. However, a lot depends on whether the fans would be willing to see him in the ring.”
Meanwhile, Mirzaev’s coach and owner of Fight Nights promotion company, Kamil Gadzhiev, informed that his man’s form has seriously deteriorated during his time in the detention facility.
But he believes the 26-year-old fighter will do everything to regain his best conditions and return to the sport.
As for Mirzaev, he hasn’t yet said a word about making a comeback to the ring, confessing that the only thing he wants to do at the moment is spend time with his family.
The tragic incident which brought the MMA lightweight champion to court happened in Moscow on August 13, 2011, attracting huge public interest in Russia.
Mirzaev delivered just one punch to 19-year-old student Ivan Agafonov during an argument at an entrance to a nightclub.
But the young man’s head struck the pavement in the fall and he died without regaining consciousness several days later.
The fighter voluntarily presented himself to the police. He was originally accused of 1st degree murder, but the charges were later changed to “causing death by recklessness.”
Just a month before that, undefeated Mirzaev claimed his MMA belt, knocking out famous martial arts expert Masanori Kanehara of Japan.
******“We'd love to work with him,” Ruslan Sunovarov, general director of Oscar promotion company told Izvestia newspaper. “He is a very interesting and promising athlete. Rasul is a decent guy and he already received his punishment.”
The president of M-1 Global, Vadim Finkelstein, who used to work with Fedor Emelianenko, also doesn’t rule out the possibility of signing Mirzaev.
"As a fighter, he is interesting to us,” he stressed. “If he is able to behave well for some time then we’ll be able to work with him. However, a lot depends on whether the fans would be willing to see him in the ring.”
Meanwhile, Mirzaev’s coach and owner of Fight Nights promotion company, Kamil Gadzhiev, informed that his man’s form has seriously deteriorated during his time in the detention facility.
But he believes the 26-year-old fighter will do everything to regain his best conditions and return to the sport.
As for Mirzaev, he hasn’t yet said a word about making a comeback to the ring, confessing that the only thing he wants to do at the moment is spend time with his family.
The tragic incident which brought the MMA lightweight champion to court happened in Moscow on August 13, 2011, attracting huge public interest in Russia.
Mirzaev delivered just one punch to 19-year-old student Ivan Agafonov during an argument at an entrance to a nightclub.
But the young man’s head struck the pavement in the fall and he died without regaining consciousness several days later.
The fighter voluntarily presented himself to the police. He was originally accused of 1st degree murder, but the charges were later changed to “causing death by recklessness.”
Just a month before that, undefeated Mirzaev claimed his MMA belt, knocking out famous martial arts expert Masanori Kanehara of Japan.
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There is a strong mixed martial arts connection, as well as future crossover implications, to the December 7th IBA and WBF light welterweight title fight between 12-time, three division world champion Holly “The Preacher’s Daughter” Holm (31-2-3, 9 KOs) and WIBA super featherweight champion Diana Prazak (11-1, 7 KOs), who will square-off in the 10-round main event on Fresquez Productions-presented “Fire And Ice” show at Route 66 Casino Hotel in Albuquerque.
Holm (31-2-3, 9 KOs) is the pound-for-pound Queen of Boxing whose victims among the world’s best women’s boxers, ranging from the 140 through 154-pound weight classes, include Ann Sophie Mathis, Christy Martin, Mary Jo Sanders, Mia St. John, Myriam Lamare, Jane Couch, Duda Yankovich and Chevelle Hallback (twice).
Holm also is an accomplished MMA fighter with a 2-0 (2 TKOs) record, both wins coming by way of kicks. Her lack of MMA fights is due to her concentration on boxing, which has been more lucrative and competitive. Holm’s head trainer in boxing, Mike Winkeljohn, is one of the head coaches at the famed Jackson’s/Winkeljohn Mixed Martial Arts Gym in Albuquerque. Team Jackson-Winkeljohn is recognized as one of the best in MMA, featuring UFC light heavyweight champion Jon “Bones” Jones, a training and sparring partner for Holm..
Prazak, a native of Australia, is trained by former world boxing and kick-boxing champion Lucia Rijker. One of Prazak’s training partners in Los Angeles is Strikeforce bantamweight champion “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey, who won a Bronze Medal in Judo at the 2008 Olympic Games. “I train with Ronda who walks around at 145 (lbs.),” Prazak explained why her move up in weight to fight Holm won’t be a problem for her. “She is a very powerful fighter and we are getting in some great sessions.”
Holm certainly isn’t looking past Prazak but her promoter, Lenny Fresquez, has to look to the future, ironically, and Holly may be heading towards a major MMA showdown in 2013. “Prazak is tough and we expect a very good fight,” Fresquez said. “Holly is focused only on her December 7th fight against Diana, but I have to think about Holly’s fight career. If we get past Prazak, I’ll try and make a deal for Holly to fight (Cecilia) Braekhus (21-0, 5 KOs), something we’ve tried to get done in the past without success. Holly’s 31 and we’re not going to wait around for Braekhus. If we can’t get a deal done to fight her, I will look into an MMA super fight between Holly and Ronda Rousey.”
Supporting “Fire And Ice” fights showcasing local boxers will feature light welterweight Matthew “Champ” Baca (1-0, 1KO) vs. Derek Perez (pro debut) in a four-round bout, female light welterweight Victoria “La Reina de la Guerra” Cisneros (8-13-2, 3 KOs) vs. “Merciless” Mary McGee (19-1, 10 KOs) in a six-round match, bantamweight Raymond “Hollewood” Montez (5-2, 3 KOs) vs. Tony Valdez (6-6-3, 6 KOs) in a much-anticipated eight-round rematch, and amateur standout Jason Sanchez makes his pro debut in a four-round fight vs. featherweight Gene Perez (1-0).
MMA NEWS: Holly Holm vs. Diana Prazak World Title Fight | Ringside Report
Holm (31-2-3, 9 KOs) is the pound-for-pound Queen of Boxing whose victims among the world’s best women’s boxers, ranging from the 140 through 154-pound weight classes, include Ann Sophie Mathis, Christy Martin, Mary Jo Sanders, Mia St. John, Myriam Lamare, Jane Couch, Duda Yankovich and Chevelle Hallback (twice).
Holm also is an accomplished MMA fighter with a 2-0 (2 TKOs) record, both wins coming by way of kicks. Her lack of MMA fights is due to her concentration on boxing, which has been more lucrative and competitive. Holm’s head trainer in boxing, Mike Winkeljohn, is one of the head coaches at the famed Jackson’s/Winkeljohn Mixed Martial Arts Gym in Albuquerque. Team Jackson-Winkeljohn is recognized as one of the best in MMA, featuring UFC light heavyweight champion Jon “Bones” Jones, a training and sparring partner for Holm..
Prazak, a native of Australia, is trained by former world boxing and kick-boxing champion Lucia Rijker. One of Prazak’s training partners in Los Angeles is Strikeforce bantamweight champion “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey, who won a Bronze Medal in Judo at the 2008 Olympic Games. “I train with Ronda who walks around at 145 (lbs.),” Prazak explained why her move up in weight to fight Holm won’t be a problem for her. “She is a very powerful fighter and we are getting in some great sessions.”
Holm certainly isn’t looking past Prazak but her promoter, Lenny Fresquez, has to look to the future, ironically, and Holly may be heading towards a major MMA showdown in 2013. “Prazak is tough and we expect a very good fight,” Fresquez said. “Holly is focused only on her December 7th fight against Diana, but I have to think about Holly’s fight career. If we get past Prazak, I’ll try and make a deal for Holly to fight (Cecilia) Braekhus (21-0, 5 KOs), something we’ve tried to get done in the past without success. Holly’s 31 and we’re not going to wait around for Braekhus. If we can’t get a deal done to fight her, I will look into an MMA super fight between Holly and Ronda Rousey.”
Supporting “Fire And Ice” fights showcasing local boxers will feature light welterweight Matthew “Champ” Baca (1-0, 1KO) vs. Derek Perez (pro debut) in a four-round bout, female light welterweight Victoria “La Reina de la Guerra” Cisneros (8-13-2, 3 KOs) vs. “Merciless” Mary McGee (19-1, 10 KOs) in a six-round match, bantamweight Raymond “Hollewood” Montez (5-2, 3 KOs) vs. Tony Valdez (6-6-3, 6 KOs) in a much-anticipated eight-round rematch, and amateur standout Jason Sanchez makes his pro debut in a four-round fight vs. featherweight Gene Perez (1-0).
MMA NEWS: Holly Holm vs. Diana Prazak World Title Fight | Ringside Report
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With the UFC seemingly still suffering from its Thanksgiving food coma, this Friday’s Bellator 82 from Mount Pleasant, Michigan will be the only real MMA grub available for fans to feast on. But thankfully when there is no UFC, Bellator normally lay out a feast regardless.
This Friday sees Bellator’s welterweight tournament draw to a close and everyone’s favorite quasi mohawked fighter - Lyman Good [14-2] will be facing off against the much vaunted and frankly scary Andrey Koreshkov [12-0] with the winner facing undefeated Ben Askren for the welterweight title.
For Good, not to put it too lightly, this fight is a big deal. It puts squarely into his own hands the chance for vengeance, as it was Askren who handed Good his first professional defeat. Askren, a former Olympian has remained undefeated since and still has Good’s old belt firmly around his waist. Defeat for Good would mean facing the unappetizing prospect of doing what he did last time after he tasted bitter defeat. Fight and fight again, up the daunting ladder of Bellator.
There’s no questioning Good’s fortitude either. His background has been well documented. The Puerto Rican from Harlem has overcome various personal obstacles, as well as a tough childhood to make a career in MMA, and it’s drawing from these past disadvantages that has helped him in his career so far. There is no question Good is one of the top welterweights operating in the Bellator ranks.
But the problem that Good faces is one that twelve others have failed to solve - and that problem is the Russian punching rubik’s cube Andrey Koreshkov. Of the twelve opponents that Koreshkov has vanquished, eight have come by KO and most of those have come in the first round. Koreshkov, in the eyes of most MMA cognoscenti is a frightening prospect. He’s already one of the most devastating strikers in the sport and one who people see as a premier fighter in the UFC further down the line. A chance to fight for a belt on Friday would do wonders for Koreshkov.
So what should fans expect? Well, in Good is an athlete who has been spectacular in this tournament, one who’s regained the speed and athleticism of his pre-defeat days, able to dispatch two of his past two opponents within the distance. It should also be noted that Good is a fighter who himself has yet to be defeated within the distance - a feather in his cap coming up against the finisher that is Koreshkov.
As for Koreshkov, he has speed, accuracy and remarkable power on his side. Other than his slightly underwhelming quarter final victory over Jordan Smith, he has been spectacular and destructive in equal measure. If he keeps his distance, away from Good’s clinch there is no telling how much of a handful the 22-year old Russian could be for Good.
So on Friday, will it be Good? Bellator’s first ever welterweight champion facing Askren, or will it be Koreshkov, widely hailed as the best welterweight prospect on the our planet. Who will get the $100,000 and fight Askren? Well, on Friday it promises to be a rather fun process of discovery.
Read more: MMA: Lyman Good Hopes to Defeat Andrey Koreshkov | Fox News Latino
This Friday sees Bellator’s welterweight tournament draw to a close and everyone’s favorite quasi mohawked fighter - Lyman Good [14-2] will be facing off against the much vaunted and frankly scary Andrey Koreshkov [12-0] with the winner facing undefeated Ben Askren for the welterweight title.
For Good, not to put it too lightly, this fight is a big deal. It puts squarely into his own hands the chance for vengeance, as it was Askren who handed Good his first professional defeat. Askren, a former Olympian has remained undefeated since and still has Good’s old belt firmly around his waist. Defeat for Good would mean facing the unappetizing prospect of doing what he did last time after he tasted bitter defeat. Fight and fight again, up the daunting ladder of Bellator.
There’s no questioning Good’s fortitude either. His background has been well documented. The Puerto Rican from Harlem has overcome various personal obstacles, as well as a tough childhood to make a career in MMA, and it’s drawing from these past disadvantages that has helped him in his career so far. There is no question Good is one of the top welterweights operating in the Bellator ranks.
But the problem that Good faces is one that twelve others have failed to solve - and that problem is the Russian punching rubik’s cube Andrey Koreshkov. Of the twelve opponents that Koreshkov has vanquished, eight have come by KO and most of those have come in the first round. Koreshkov, in the eyes of most MMA cognoscenti is a frightening prospect. He’s already one of the most devastating strikers in the sport and one who people see as a premier fighter in the UFC further down the line. A chance to fight for a belt on Friday would do wonders for Koreshkov.
So what should fans expect? Well, in Good is an athlete who has been spectacular in this tournament, one who’s regained the speed and athleticism of his pre-defeat days, able to dispatch two of his past two opponents within the distance. It should also be noted that Good is a fighter who himself has yet to be defeated within the distance - a feather in his cap coming up against the finisher that is Koreshkov.
As for Koreshkov, he has speed, accuracy and remarkable power on his side. Other than his slightly underwhelming quarter final victory over Jordan Smith, he has been spectacular and destructive in equal measure. If he keeps his distance, away from Good’s clinch there is no telling how much of a handful the 22-year old Russian could be for Good.
So on Friday, will it be Good? Bellator’s first ever welterweight champion facing Askren, or will it be Koreshkov, widely hailed as the best welterweight prospect on the our planet. Who will get the $100,000 and fight Askren? Well, on Friday it promises to be a rather fun process of discovery.
Read more: MMA: Lyman Good Hopes to Defeat Andrey Koreshkov | Fox News Latino
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When Georges St-Pierre commented during a UFC 154 pre-fight interview that he was not a fan of female mixed martial arts, few thought much of it. St-Pierre is a busy man and between his traditional upbringing and personal training, few would blame the UFC welterweight champion for not taking an interest in women’s MMA.
The few, of course, does not include Miesha Tate.
After St-Pierre’s comments, Tate took to her website, condemning the Canadian for his comments, and said the women of mixed martial arts “aren’t fragile little creatures” and aren’t “asking for your protection.”
It was a random, if not bizarre, post from Tate. She was thoroughly offended that one of the sport’s leading figures was not interested in watching her compete. The former Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champion had worked for years to be accepted among mixed martial arts elite, and a fighter whom she referred to as an “all-time favourite” had never taken the time to watch her fight.
Perhaps Tate was actually offended by the comments, or maybe the influence of Ronda Rousey had convinced her she needed to be more outspoken. Whatever the case, Tate’s comments seem unfounded.
Although Tate has worked hard for her spot, there are many reasons female MMA is not as popular or accepted as male MMA. The idea of women fighting is new to the mainstream culture, and is something even MMA fans have to get used to. Ask a casual sports fan at your local bar and I assure you most will not even know that women competed in MMA.
To compare the amount of male fighters in comparison to female fighters, you would find there are many more men who compete, and to argue that women’s MMA should be on the same levels in both popularity and appreciation is non-sensible.
It is important for “Cupcake” to remember that mixed martial arts is not a fully accepted sport on any level. Jaunt over to ESPN-com and you’ll see that mixed martial arts appears in the “other sports” category, just ahead of horse racing and poker. A sport with as much violence and brutality as MMA does not appeal to everyone, and there’s very little the athletes can do to change that.
With MMA being such a niche market, it’s completely understandable and logical that female MMA would appeal to an even smaller audience. Outside of the Olympic Games and perhaps tennis, there are few well-known and recognized female athletes. This is not to say things should be like this, but the mainstream has not accepted women’s professional sports and MMA is no different.
By no means am I arguing the women of MMA are less talented or take the sport any less seriously. They have worked diligently both on their skills and promoting the sport to achieve accolades few women have matched in other professional sports. Athletes such as Rousey and Gina Carano have been positive ambassadors for MMA and are amongst the most well-known female athletes in North America. Whether or not Rousey’s outspoken personality is good or bad for the sport may be up for debate, but there’s no denying that her brash persona and good looks are attracting attention. Her recent comments about taking part in copious amounts of sex before a fight had media talking, including TMZ where Rousey has become a regular.
Tate too sees herself as an ambassador and spokeswoman for MMA, and especially female MMA. It’s critical for her to understand mixed martial arts and particularly women’s MMA is not for everyone. Advocates of the sport have long fought to have the sport legalized and accepted by the mainstream media, and to have the women of the sport accepted on the same level will be a long and strenuous battle.
Smith: Women's MMA will take time to be accepted - sportsnet.ca
The few, of course, does not include Miesha Tate.
After St-Pierre’s comments, Tate took to her website, condemning the Canadian for his comments, and said the women of mixed martial arts “aren’t fragile little creatures” and aren’t “asking for your protection.”
It was a random, if not bizarre, post from Tate. She was thoroughly offended that one of the sport’s leading figures was not interested in watching her compete. The former Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champion had worked for years to be accepted among mixed martial arts elite, and a fighter whom she referred to as an “all-time favourite” had never taken the time to watch her fight.
Perhaps Tate was actually offended by the comments, or maybe the influence of Ronda Rousey had convinced her she needed to be more outspoken. Whatever the case, Tate’s comments seem unfounded.
Although Tate has worked hard for her spot, there are many reasons female MMA is not as popular or accepted as male MMA. The idea of women fighting is new to the mainstream culture, and is something even MMA fans have to get used to. Ask a casual sports fan at your local bar and I assure you most will not even know that women competed in MMA.
To compare the amount of male fighters in comparison to female fighters, you would find there are many more men who compete, and to argue that women’s MMA should be on the same levels in both popularity and appreciation is non-sensible.
It is important for “Cupcake” to remember that mixed martial arts is not a fully accepted sport on any level. Jaunt over to ESPN-com and you’ll see that mixed martial arts appears in the “other sports” category, just ahead of horse racing and poker. A sport with as much violence and brutality as MMA does not appeal to everyone, and there’s very little the athletes can do to change that.
With MMA being such a niche market, it’s completely understandable and logical that female MMA would appeal to an even smaller audience. Outside of the Olympic Games and perhaps tennis, there are few well-known and recognized female athletes. This is not to say things should be like this, but the mainstream has not accepted women’s professional sports and MMA is no different.
By no means am I arguing the women of MMA are less talented or take the sport any less seriously. They have worked diligently both on their skills and promoting the sport to achieve accolades few women have matched in other professional sports. Athletes such as Rousey and Gina Carano have been positive ambassadors for MMA and are amongst the most well-known female athletes in North America. Whether or not Rousey’s outspoken personality is good or bad for the sport may be up for debate, but there’s no denying that her brash persona and good looks are attracting attention. Her recent comments about taking part in copious amounts of sex before a fight had media talking, including TMZ where Rousey has become a regular.
Tate too sees herself as an ambassador and spokeswoman for MMA, and especially female MMA. It’s critical for her to understand mixed martial arts and particularly women’s MMA is not for everyone. Advocates of the sport have long fought to have the sport legalized and accepted by the mainstream media, and to have the women of the sport accepted on the same level will be a long and strenuous battle.
Smith: Women's MMA will take time to be accepted - sportsnet.ca
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On a recent episode of The MMA Beat, panelist Mike Straka said that UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St-Pierre is asking the UFC for a 50 Million Paycheck in order to have a super fight with UFC Middleweight Champ Anderson Silva. (See video at bottom of story)
“I was told by somebody very close to Georges that Georges today makes close to 8 million dollars a fight. So to fight Anderson Silva he’s going to ask for 50 million dollars. Because he said that Georges has 10 fights left in his career at 8 million a fight. But he believes that Anderson could actually hurt him. Could physically hurt him and end his career. So to take that chance he wants 50 million dollars, and that’s exactly the number he’s going to go to Dana White with.”
But when St-Pierre was told about Straka’s comment by 985sports.ca, he refuted it brusquely.
“I have not been informed of this, it is not true. Nobody told me about it and I am in France now, I have not seen the article. I will not comment.” (Translated from French via Google Translate)
St-Pierre is currently in France, where he recently Tweeted that he had a training session with boxers Tidiani Biga and Abdoulaye Fadiga in Paris.
MMA’s 50 Million Dollar Man? GSP Says It’s Not So | MM-eh
“I was told by somebody very close to Georges that Georges today makes close to 8 million dollars a fight. So to fight Anderson Silva he’s going to ask for 50 million dollars. Because he said that Georges has 10 fights left in his career at 8 million a fight. But he believes that Anderson could actually hurt him. Could physically hurt him and end his career. So to take that chance he wants 50 million dollars, and that’s exactly the number he’s going to go to Dana White with.”
But when St-Pierre was told about Straka’s comment by 985sports.ca, he refuted it brusquely.
“I have not been informed of this, it is not true. Nobody told me about it and I am in France now, I have not seen the article. I will not comment.” (Translated from French via Google Translate)
St-Pierre is currently in France, where he recently Tweeted that he had a training session with boxers Tidiani Biga and Abdoulaye Fadiga in Paris.
MMA’s 50 Million Dollar Man? GSP Says It’s Not So | MM-eh
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UFC welterweight Jon Fitch has discovered a truth that all fighters need to learn if they haven't already: The UFC is in the business of entertainment.
Fitch learned this lesson the hard way.
The former Purdue wrestling standout won fights in the UFC, but he did so in unpopular fashion. Fans disliked Fitch for his use of wrestling and smothering control in his fights as well as for his lack of finishes. They branded him with the dreaded "lay and pray" and "boring" labels.
Thus, the ever-disfavored Fitch had to earn eight wins in a row before being given a title shot against Georges St-Pierre. And what happened when he came up short in that title shot? He was sent straight to the prelims in his next fight.
I'll say that again so it sticks: He went from contending for a title in the main event of a pay-per-view to being on the preliminary portion of a card in his next fight. That's what neglecting the entertainment aspect of MMA does to your career. Fitch has finally listened to reason (and dollar signs). After resisting that aspect of MMA for so long he's accepted the truth: Fans will only part with their money/time if they feel that the event (be it a PPV or a free event on television) will be worth that money/time in terms of entertainment value.
There's a reason why major networks don't make collegiate wrestling a big part of their programming. Yes, the athletes are superbly conditioned and are some of the most mentally tough people on the planet, but the average spectator doesn't care about that.
Viewers want to see action.
They want to see phantasmagorical displays of violence and symphonies of submissions and strikes. If you, as a fighter, can't deliver this, or feel you shouldn't have to, have fun fighting for the small crowds on the preliminary bouts.
This rings even truer during the age of the UFC on Fox, where millions of new, relatively uninformed people will be watching—not for Joe Rogan discussing the finer points of the whizzer and how wonderful it is to see two guys clinching for half a round—but for what they perceive to be fighting.
Many MMA fans have this bizarre, orotund belief that appreciating skill above all else gives them some sort of moral high ground and lets them denigrate all those who watch the sport for an afternoon/night of excitement.
Skill is obviously important. I've long maintained that there's no such thing as a boring fight, only fans who can't appreciate certain aspects of fighting. But skill that doesn't produce a memorable fight or skill that is used only to coast to a decision hurts the long-term growth of the sport.
Nobody wins when the sport permanently loses a potential fan due to a bad fight.
We all need to remember that the casual viewership watches the UFC on Fox for the same reasons they'd (presumably) be watching anything else that night: to be entertained. The casual fan will gladly switch back to a rerun of The Office or some other show if they don't find MMA particularly enthralling.
The majority of viewers (casual fans) don't care about how good a guy's transitions are.
They don't care about footwork. They don't care about high-level guard passes.
They might in time as they become more educated, but right now, what they care about the most is that a fight delivers one of three things: a knockout, a submission or a captivating and exciting 15-to-25 minutes of entertainment.
Jon Fitch knows this now.
The parts of the MMA world that haven't figured it out yet need to soon.
Fighters Need to Take After Jon Fitch and Learn That MMA Is About Entertainment | Bleacher Report
Fitch learned this lesson the hard way.
The former Purdue wrestling standout won fights in the UFC, but he did so in unpopular fashion. Fans disliked Fitch for his use of wrestling and smothering control in his fights as well as for his lack of finishes. They branded him with the dreaded "lay and pray" and "boring" labels.
Thus, the ever-disfavored Fitch had to earn eight wins in a row before being given a title shot against Georges St-Pierre. And what happened when he came up short in that title shot? He was sent straight to the prelims in his next fight.
I'll say that again so it sticks: He went from contending for a title in the main event of a pay-per-view to being on the preliminary portion of a card in his next fight. That's what neglecting the entertainment aspect of MMA does to your career. Fitch has finally listened to reason (and dollar signs). After resisting that aspect of MMA for so long he's accepted the truth: Fans will only part with their money/time if they feel that the event (be it a PPV or a free event on television) will be worth that money/time in terms of entertainment value.
There's a reason why major networks don't make collegiate wrestling a big part of their programming. Yes, the athletes are superbly conditioned and are some of the most mentally tough people on the planet, but the average spectator doesn't care about that.
Viewers want to see action.
They want to see phantasmagorical displays of violence and symphonies of submissions and strikes. If you, as a fighter, can't deliver this, or feel you shouldn't have to, have fun fighting for the small crowds on the preliminary bouts.
This rings even truer during the age of the UFC on Fox, where millions of new, relatively uninformed people will be watching—not for Joe Rogan discussing the finer points of the whizzer and how wonderful it is to see two guys clinching for half a round—but for what they perceive to be fighting.
Many MMA fans have this bizarre, orotund belief that appreciating skill above all else gives them some sort of moral high ground and lets them denigrate all those who watch the sport for an afternoon/night of excitement.
Skill is obviously important. I've long maintained that there's no such thing as a boring fight, only fans who can't appreciate certain aspects of fighting. But skill that doesn't produce a memorable fight or skill that is used only to coast to a decision hurts the long-term growth of the sport.
Nobody wins when the sport permanently loses a potential fan due to a bad fight.
We all need to remember that the casual viewership watches the UFC on Fox for the same reasons they'd (presumably) be watching anything else that night: to be entertained. The casual fan will gladly switch back to a rerun of The Office or some other show if they don't find MMA particularly enthralling.
The majority of viewers (casual fans) don't care about how good a guy's transitions are.
They don't care about footwork. They don't care about high-level guard passes.
They might in time as they become more educated, but right now, what they care about the most is that a fight delivers one of three things: a knockout, a submission or a captivating and exciting 15-to-25 minutes of entertainment.
Jon Fitch knows this now.
The parts of the MMA world that haven't figured it out yet need to soon.
Fighters Need to Take After Jon Fitch and Learn That MMA Is About Entertainment | Bleacher Report
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Danny Ruiz is a fighter.
He is a staff sergeant in the Air Force Reserve, a husband, father and coach. But above all, he's a fighter.
Ruiz is a week away from his 19th professional mixed martial arts fight. But this one means more. This fight, the Strike Fight event Dec. 8 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., will be in front of a hometown crowd of his military brethren. It will also be a return to the location where he made the decision to become an MMA fighter.
His combative journey to the octagon and the main event began in New York. Ruiz's father, an Army veteran, taught him to box and showed him some martial arts techniques when he was only eight years old. At age 13, Ruiz discovered knowing how to throw jabs wasn't the only way to win a fight. The realization came to him like a slap in the face -- literally. Instead of punching, a technique Ruiz could defend, a school-yard opponent tackled him and beat him up.
"That's when I started training in wrestling and judo with my uncle," laughed Ruiz, a cargo loader with the 919th Logistics Readiness Squadron.
He moved to Orlando soon after, but continued the training. He met his current trainer Daniel Silva there and the two became fast friends. Silva taught him to incorporate Brazilian jiu jitsu to his repertoire.
"I went into this new gym thinking I knew a few things and could handle myself," said the energetic, 170-pound Ruiz. "We started grappling and I tried a wrist lock and he choked me out. The next time he arm-barred me. I said, 'Oh I like this, where do I sign up? I like this Brazilian jiu jitsu stuff.'"
Ruiz was hooked on the new techniques and in 1998 started training for his first fight. In September of that year, he fought and won a three-round decision.
"The nerves and anxiety were overwhelming at first," said Ruiz, who holds a 12-6 record. "I think I was more scared of my trainer than my opponent."
Ruiz said the win had him on fire for the sport for a while, but he got lazy and didn't want to battle the weight management it took to continue fighting.
In 2003, he entered the active-duty Air Force and was stationed at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., as a weapons loader. Ruiz said his next life-changing moment came in January 2005 while watching the first season of "Ultimate Fighter," a reality show about MMA fighters competing for a shot in the sport's premier league, Ultimate Fighting Championship.
"Phil Nichols was bragging about his two-and-a-half years of jiu jitsu training and that fired me up," recalled Ruiz. "I'd been training five times as long as this guy on TV and here I am laying on the couch watching it happen."
That's when he devoted himself to training for and competing in MMA again. Initially, his dream met with some push-back from supervisors and co-workers, but with the help of his leadership, he got the approvals needed to train and fight while on active duty.
"Since 2005, the Air Force has come a long way toward accepting MMA. The culture of fitness has changed and MMA is much more widely accepted today," said Ruiz, who now helps train other Airmen in MMA at a local gym. "Over the years, I've seen the Air Force adopt many of the MMA-style workouts I used when I began the training. Several of my students have continued to train even in a deployed environment."
He began making monthly eight-hour road trips back to Orlando to train in the gyms where he started years earlier. Ruiz said this was a "bruising" period for him as his trainers wore him out physically. He would not be broken, though. Ruiz continued and returned to fighting status in 2006.
His return was a success. While fighting at 185 pounds, he racked up four straight wins within a year. For his fifth fight, he dropped down to 170 pounds. The weight loss proved too significant; and though Ruiz broke his opponent's nose and orbital bone, he lost by technical knock-out in the second round.
"I was gassed, man, I just gave up," he said of the first loss of his career. "From then on I began to concentrate harder on the cardio and diet because I wanted to remain at that weight."
After a bounce-back knockout victory in 2008, Ruiz struggled with four straight losses by knockout or submission. This career low-point had a dramatic impact on Ruiz's MMA career. He faced tough choices in rebuilding his game to start over. The first step was to repair his mental game and the crippling anxiety he suffered with big matches.
"Pushing past the physical is tough; a program called 'Wintensity' helped me understand what happens to the mind before a fight and how to deal with the anxiety," said Ruiz.
Following the program's exercises and taking a few psychology classes helped Ruiz gain focus and clarity of mind. The techniques allowed him to manage the nerves and anxiety that held him back in the fight.
Silva saw immediate progress once Ruiz finally took hold of his mental game.
"His greatest improvement came after those four tough losses," said Silva. "He was completely humbled after that. It is incredibly difficult for a fighter to have humility, admit their mistakes and understand those errors can be learned from. He had to go deep down and find out who he was and who he wanted to be and do it."
Ruiz decided he wanted to be a fighter again.
During this dark time, he separated from active duty and joined the Air Force Reserve. He served for a year as a weapons loader with the 908th Airlift Wing at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., before cross-training to join the 919th Special Operations Wing here in 2010.
After an eight-month recovery both mentally and physically, Ruiz returned to the octagon with a new intensity. He won five fights in less than a year en route to six straight victories including the Atlas Fights Welter Weight Championship in April 2011.
"He found his heart," said Silva. "His mind was clear and he went in there and executed. He became an all-around fighter; so whatever mission was in front o
He is a staff sergeant in the Air Force Reserve, a husband, father and coach. But above all, he's a fighter.
Ruiz is a week away from his 19th professional mixed martial arts fight. But this one means more. This fight, the Strike Fight event Dec. 8 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., will be in front of a hometown crowd of his military brethren. It will also be a return to the location where he made the decision to become an MMA fighter.
His combative journey to the octagon and the main event began in New York. Ruiz's father, an Army veteran, taught him to box and showed him some martial arts techniques when he was only eight years old. At age 13, Ruiz discovered knowing how to throw jabs wasn't the only way to win a fight. The realization came to him like a slap in the face -- literally. Instead of punching, a technique Ruiz could defend, a school-yard opponent tackled him and beat him up.
"That's when I started training in wrestling and judo with my uncle," laughed Ruiz, a cargo loader with the 919th Logistics Readiness Squadron.
He moved to Orlando soon after, but continued the training. He met his current trainer Daniel Silva there and the two became fast friends. Silva taught him to incorporate Brazilian jiu jitsu to his repertoire.
"I went into this new gym thinking I knew a few things and could handle myself," said the energetic, 170-pound Ruiz. "We started grappling and I tried a wrist lock and he choked me out. The next time he arm-barred me. I said, 'Oh I like this, where do I sign up? I like this Brazilian jiu jitsu stuff.'"
Ruiz was hooked on the new techniques and in 1998 started training for his first fight. In September of that year, he fought and won a three-round decision.
"The nerves and anxiety were overwhelming at first," said Ruiz, who holds a 12-6 record. "I think I was more scared of my trainer than my opponent."
Ruiz said the win had him on fire for the sport for a while, but he got lazy and didn't want to battle the weight management it took to continue fighting.
In 2003, he entered the active-duty Air Force and was stationed at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., as a weapons loader. Ruiz said his next life-changing moment came in January 2005 while watching the first season of "Ultimate Fighter," a reality show about MMA fighters competing for a shot in the sport's premier league, Ultimate Fighting Championship.
"Phil Nichols was bragging about his two-and-a-half years of jiu jitsu training and that fired me up," recalled Ruiz. "I'd been training five times as long as this guy on TV and here I am laying on the couch watching it happen."
That's when he devoted himself to training for and competing in MMA again. Initially, his dream met with some push-back from supervisors and co-workers, but with the help of his leadership, he got the approvals needed to train and fight while on active duty.
"Since 2005, the Air Force has come a long way toward accepting MMA. The culture of fitness has changed and MMA is much more widely accepted today," said Ruiz, who now helps train other Airmen in MMA at a local gym. "Over the years, I've seen the Air Force adopt many of the MMA-style workouts I used when I began the training. Several of my students have continued to train even in a deployed environment."
He began making monthly eight-hour road trips back to Orlando to train in the gyms where he started years earlier. Ruiz said this was a "bruising" period for him as his trainers wore him out physically. He would not be broken, though. Ruiz continued and returned to fighting status in 2006.
His return was a success. While fighting at 185 pounds, he racked up four straight wins within a year. For his fifth fight, he dropped down to 170 pounds. The weight loss proved too significant; and though Ruiz broke his opponent's nose and orbital bone, he lost by technical knock-out in the second round.
"I was gassed, man, I just gave up," he said of the first loss of his career. "From then on I began to concentrate harder on the cardio and diet because I wanted to remain at that weight."
After a bounce-back knockout victory in 2008, Ruiz struggled with four straight losses by knockout or submission. This career low-point had a dramatic impact on Ruiz's MMA career. He faced tough choices in rebuilding his game to start over. The first step was to repair his mental game and the crippling anxiety he suffered with big matches.
"Pushing past the physical is tough; a program called 'Wintensity' helped me understand what happens to the mind before a fight and how to deal with the anxiety," said Ruiz.
Following the program's exercises and taking a few psychology classes helped Ruiz gain focus and clarity of mind. The techniques allowed him to manage the nerves and anxiety that held him back in the fight.
Silva saw immediate progress once Ruiz finally took hold of his mental game.
"His greatest improvement came after those four tough losses," said Silva. "He was completely humbled after that. It is incredibly difficult for a fighter to have humility, admit their mistakes and understand those errors can be learned from. He had to go deep down and find out who he was and who he wanted to be and do it."
Ruiz decided he wanted to be a fighter again.
During this dark time, he separated from active duty and joined the Air Force Reserve. He served for a year as a weapons loader with the 908th Airlift Wing at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., before cross-training to join the 919th Special Operations Wing here in 2010.
After an eight-month recovery both mentally and physically, Ruiz returned to the octagon with a new intensity. He won five fights in less than a year en route to six straight victories including the Atlas Fights Welter Weight Championship in April 2011.
"He found his heart," said Silva. "His mind was clear and he went in there and executed. He became an all-around fighter; so whatever mission was in front o
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John Crouch, head trainer to Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight champion Ben Henderson, tells BJPenn.com he believes the Cesar Gracie Fight Team may be the best mixed martial arts (MMA) camp in the country, if not the world.
As Crouch prepares "Smooth" for his second title defense against Gracie-trained Nate Diaz at UFC on FOX 5 this weekend (Dec. 8, 2012) in Seattle, Washington, he knows just what kind of effective game planning and winning results Cesar and his team of coaches can produce.
His words:
"I have complete confidence in Benson; we've never gone into a fight where I thought we were going to lose. I totally believe Ben can finish the fight. With that being said, Nate Diaz and Cesar Gracie probably believe the same thing. Nate deserves this shot, that camp is severely underrated. Because they talk a little bit doesn't hide the fact that they may be the best camp in the country, if not the world. Their guys are tough, they always scrap and they are good everywhere. They have heart and I think my favorite part about them is their sense of team and their sense of community within their school. I am a huge fan of Cesar Gracie. With that being said, we're going to win on December 8th."
Regardless of the fact that neither of Gracie's fighters have yet to taste UFC gold, the famed fight camp does house current and former champions of other organizations such as former Strikeforce middleweight kingpin Jake Shields, current Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez and former Strikeforce and World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) welterweight champ, Nick Diaz.
The younger of the Diaz boys, Nate, would be the first of the group to become a champion inside the Octagon should he top Benson in "The Emerald City."
The "Scrap Pack" definitely ranks among the very best when it comes to the quality of MMA training camps, but, is it the cream of the crop? Or does that other famous training camp in Albuquerque, New Mexico, top them?
Or maybe even those "Blackzilians" in sunny Florida?
As Crouch prepares "Smooth" for his second title defense against Gracie-trained Nate Diaz at UFC on FOX 5 this weekend (Dec. 8, 2012) in Seattle, Washington, he knows just what kind of effective game planning and winning results Cesar and his team of coaches can produce.
His words:
"I have complete confidence in Benson; we've never gone into a fight where I thought we were going to lose. I totally believe Ben can finish the fight. With that being said, Nate Diaz and Cesar Gracie probably believe the same thing. Nate deserves this shot, that camp is severely underrated. Because they talk a little bit doesn't hide the fact that they may be the best camp in the country, if not the world. Their guys are tough, they always scrap and they are good everywhere. They have heart and I think my favorite part about them is their sense of team and their sense of community within their school. I am a huge fan of Cesar Gracie. With that being said, we're going to win on December 8th."
Regardless of the fact that neither of Gracie's fighters have yet to taste UFC gold, the famed fight camp does house current and former champions of other organizations such as former Strikeforce middleweight kingpin Jake Shields, current Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez and former Strikeforce and World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) welterweight champ, Nick Diaz.
The younger of the Diaz boys, Nate, would be the first of the group to become a champion inside the Octagon should he top Benson in "The Emerald City."
The "Scrap Pack" definitely ranks among the very best when it comes to the quality of MMA training camps, but, is it the cream of the crop? Or does that other famous training camp in Albuquerque, New Mexico, top them?
Or maybe even those "Blackzilians" in sunny Florida?
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
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MMA revival deferred again | The Nation