Fight Card 43: Final Conflict – Saturday
December 15, 2011 by Matt
Brookfield’s Hector Mercado will battle Sandwich, Illinois native Jason Todd for the Fight Card Entertainment Lightweight Title in one of the feature bouts at FCE 43/FINAL CONFLICT this Saturday night at Mojoes Music Venue in Joliet.
The 24-year-old Mercado was originally set to challenge Omar Diaz for the title, but Todd has stepped in on short notice with an eye on the FCE belt.
A native of Guadalajara, Mexico, Mercado is an all-around athlete drawing huge crowds to his fights at Fight Card Entertainment events.
Said Brian Angelo of Fight Card Entertainment, “Hector was a terrific high school athlete at Lyons Township prior to his four year stint in the US Army. He’s got an outstanding all-around game, particularly on the ground.”
“Although Omar Diaz would have presented a tough challenge for Hector, we’re very confident that Jason Todd, who has faced numerous skilled fighters, will present a more than worthy test for Hector.”
Also at FCE #43/FINAL CONFLICT card is the highly anticipated five bout finals of the 2011 Fight Card Entertainment Team Challenge between finalists TEAM NO COMMENT and TEAM 110.
Four additional bouts will also take place in the lightweight division as Josh Pemble faces Ken Hanson, Raphael Reyes battles James Karns, Salvatore Terracciano hits the cage against Dontrell Parnell followed by Patrick Yates challenging Jacob Rose.
Additionally, flyweights will see action at FCE #43/FINAL CONFLICT as James Carmisa clashes with Christian Lucero.
In the light heavyweight division Great Lakes’ Denarius Mobley will challenge Albert Cunningham. Also in the light heavyweight division Top Notch’s Garret Anderson battles Tim Phinney.
Doors on the night of the event will open at 5:30pm with the first bell at 6pm.
For advance tickets and more information on Fight Card Entertainment, please visit their website at www.FightCard.net or call them at 773-745-1112.
XFO 42 Video: Kevin Knabjian vs. Brandon Adamson
December 12, 2011 by Matt
Kevin Knabjian had a bit of a rough ride after competing on Season 9 of “The Ultimate Fighter”, dropping three straight bouts. But a more active 2011 and a drop to 155lbs. has reinvigorated the Midwest Training Center fighter.
He got back in the win column in July, needing just :35 to get Jonathan Tarrh to submit from strikes at Total Warrior Challenge 9 in Indy. Saturday night he was back at it, taking on Miletich Fighting Systems’ Brandon Adamson.
Listen to the excellent coaching from MTC’s Alex Trujillo, preaching patience and calling for the move that would finish Adamson.
Jon Jones UFC 140 Post-Fight Interview
December 11, 2011 by Matt
UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones retained his title with a stunning 2nd round victory over Lyoto Machida. Here’s the champ’s interview as he left the Octagon.
XFO 42 Results
December 10, 2011 by Matt
Results from XFO 42 at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, IL on December 10, 2011. Live results also available by following Chicago’s MMA Twitter.
Main Event
Miodrag Petkovich def. Mike Marrello via unanimous decision
Co-Main Event
Danny Aguirre def. Jake Grigson tap via armbar, 2:19 of rd. 2
Pro Bouts
Kevin Knabjian def. Brandon Adamson tap via kimura, 1:44 of rd. 1
Carson Beebe def. Lloyd Carter via unanimous decision
Darren Jacoby def. Kent Rexford, KO, 4:13 of rd. 1
Adam Ward def. Danny Rodriguez via KO at 2:00 of rd. 1
Joey Diehl def. Brandon Wood, TKO- Ref. stoppage, :47 of rd. 1
Ed Blake def. Matt Tobie via majority decision
Guillermo Serment def. Vince Ramos via unanimous decision
Chris Haney def. Johnny Coleman tap via strikes, 2:25 of rd. 1
Robert Couillard def. Anthony Goodwin, KO-Knee, 3:22 of rd.1
XFO Bantamweight Amateur Title
Richard Dey def. Vince Romandine via KO, 3:54 of rd. 1
XFO Featherweight Amateur Title
Cory Galloway def. Pedro Velasco, tap via armbar, 1:11 of rd. 2
XFO Flyweight Amateur Title
Andre Feliciano def. David Williams, unanimous decision
Amateur Bouts
Patrick O’Conner def. Eddie Escobar, Tap – triangle choke, 1:30 rd. 1
Zak Ottow def. Oliver Vazquez via unanimous decision
Alonzo Fuller def. Tommy Hawley via unanimous decision
Josh Estrada def. Chris Appleton, unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Stefan Von Aulock def. Jake Klipp, TKO-Ref. Stoppage, 1:13 Rd. 2
Miguel Torres Responds to UFC Firing
December 9, 2011 by Matt
In a quick missive on his website, Miguel Torres responded to his firing from the UFC, specifically addressing it to his fans:
“I have a lot to be thankful for in my life, I have my beautiful wife and daughter, my family, my health, my gym, and in terms of my career, I succeeded to the biggest stage in the sport of mixed martial arts, the Ultimate Fighting Championship. I am very sorry for upsetting my bosses at the UFC, and also to my fans and everyone else who was upset by the language in my tweets. I understand it was wrong, and I meant no harm or disrespect. Given the chance, I will do whatever it takes to make things right. I am going to learn from this. I think life throws you opportunities that can make you a better person, and so that’s what I’m going to do here. That is how I am going to react. I am going to use this to improve myself, and I hope that my fans will continue to support me.”
It seems unfair that Torres was made a scapegoat for the recent rash of bad tweets and jokes made by UFC fighters. Here’s hoping that cooler heads prevail and Torres is reinstated into the UFC, the place where he belongs to compete at the sport he has given so much to.
Michael Bisping on Mayhem, Maia and Respect
December 8, 2011 by Matt
We caught up with UFC middleweight contender Michael Bisping at the UFC on FOX press conference at the United Center on Wednesday.
Bisping talked about how Mayhem Miller was ‘like a little boy’ and easy to throw around during their fight last Saturday night, how he views his upcoming fight with Demian Maia and if he gets the respect he deserves in the UFC.
Bisping has now recorded four straight victories, but he’s probably right when he says he doesn’t get the respect he deserves, and that will likely remain the case even if he defeats Maia. Bisping will always be over-criticized due to his saltiness, and maybe even because he is an English fighter. He may not ever be completely respected until he holds the title.
But as Mayhem said in the post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, you may not like Bisping but as a fighter he deserves your applause. And your respect.
Rashad Evans: I Would Smash Jon Jones in Practice
December 8, 2011 by Matt
Rashad Evans has a tough task ahead of him when he battles Phil “Mr. Wonderful” Davis at the UFC on FOX event in Chicago on January 28th. Evans took part in the UFC press conference yesterday at the United Center, and while he traded some verbal jabs with Davis, the conversation inevitably moved to his feud with UFC light heavyweight champion Jon “Bones” Jones.
Ray Flores and I caught up with Evans at the press conference, and he did his part to stoke the fires of his feud with Jones in this interview for ESPN Chicago.
Dana White: Shonie Carter Needs to Call Joe Silva
December 7, 2011 by Matt
The UFC on FOX press conference for the January 28 event took place today at the United Center, and it was as much a barrel of laughs as it was informative.
Chael Sonnen stole the show, with a barrage of humor and one-liners that could land him a writing gig on a sitcom should this whole MMA thing fall by the wayside.
Earlier this month Shonie Carter stated his desire to fight at the UFC in Chicago in front of his home fans and family. I asked Dana White about the possibility of Shonie getting a fight on the card, and here’s what the UFC president had to say, as well as the rest of the press conference from this afternoon.
Chicago hopes Shonie puts in that call to Joe Silva and gets put on the prelims of the card.
Bellator Moves to Friday Nights for Season 6
December 7, 2011 by Matt
Bellator will open their sixth season on Friday, March 2nd from a soon to be announced location. The premiere will mark the first time Bellator has aired on Friday nights. Hopefully the promotion will return to Chicago for season 6.
“Our focus was to find the right night, where the largest number of MMA fans could enjoy the show,” Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney said. “We’ve been discussing this move with our partners at Viacom for months. When we looked at the alternatives, we agreed that Fridays provided a great night for us to reach MMA fans with our live, real sport, tournament events every week.”
Bellator’s Season 6 will feature five tournaments, each loaded with world-class talent from across the globe as well the potential for six World Title fights.
In arguably the deepest division within Bellator, eight featherweights will go to battle looking to earn their right to challenge for the belt.
The lightweights are back, and will be gunning for newly crowned Bellator Lightweight Champion Michael Chandler after his bloody war with Eddie Alvarez. Watch the entire Chandler/Alvarez fight right here.
Fresh off a welterweight tournament that saw Douglas Lima punch his ticket to a guaranteed title shot against reigning Bellator Welterweight Champion Ben Askren, eight 170 pounders will compete to earn their title shot against the winner of this tremendous world title fight, and Middleweights collide as the promotion searches for a challenger to take on the winner of Lombard vs. Shlemenko II for the Bellator Middleweight Title.
Bellator Season Five Tournament winner Alexander “Storm” Shlemenko will battle Lombard during Season 6 in a rematch of their third season showdown where Lombard successfully defended his title with a unanimous decision victory.
TUF Moves to FX, Faber and Cruz Next Coaches
December 7, 2011 by Matt
The UFC is in town for a press conference at the United Center for the UFC on FOX event in January. Yesterday, The UFC announced that The Ultimate Fighter®, the longest-running sports reality show on television, is moving to FX this March with a new, live format.
The Ultimate Fighter® LIVE debuts on Friday, March 9 as part of a two-hour season premiere beginning at 9 p.m. ET. The show will then air for one hour at 10 p.m. ET every Friday for 13 weeks on FX. UFC® bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz and “The California Kid” Urijah Faber will serve as coaches on the upcoming season, with lightweight and welterweight contestants competing for two, six-figure UFC contracts.
“We’re producing ground-breaking television with The Ultimate Fighter LIVE and we can’t wait to kick this season off with FX in March,” UFC President Dana White said. “It’s going to be can’t-miss TV. Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber are two incredible personalities who also happen to be two of the best fighters in the world. They genuinely dislike each other and I expect this to make for the best season yet.”
“We believe that Dana and Lorenzo (Fertitta), along with Executive Producer Craig Piligian, have come up with exciting new changes to the format of The Ultimate Fighter that will expand and grow the series,” said Chuck Saftler, Executive Vice President, FX Networks. “The fact that the fights at the end of each episode will now be televised live is certain to create a sense of urgency for UFC fans. Furthermore, the move of TUF to Friday nights will provide a great ratings boost to the network.”
The rivalry between coaches Cruz and Faber dates back to March 2007, when Faber handed Cruz his first and only professional loss in a 145-pound bout. The 26-year-old Cruz avenged that loss this past July, defeating Faber by unanimous decision to retain the bantamweight crown in a Fight of the Year candidate. With the series now even, Cruz and Faber look to settle the score as TUF coaches, followed by a title fight in mid-2012 inside the Octagon®.
Undefeated at 9-0 since dropping to bantamweight in 2008, San Diego’s Cruz (19-1) has surged to the top of the division thanks to unorthodox striking, tremendous cardio, and aggressive wrestling. Owner of wins over the likes of Faber, Demetrious Johnson, Scott Jorgensen, Joseph Benavidez (twice), and Brian Bowles, “The Dominator” has long sought an opportunity to serve as coach on The Ultimate Fighter®. The chance to coach opposite his longtime rival makes the opportunity that much sweeter.
“Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a gym rat and love learning and teaching mixed martial arts,” Cruz, who trains at Alliance MMA in San Diego, said. “This is a dream come true. To get a chance to coach TUF and beat Faber again is all the motivation I need. This is going to be an insane season of The Ultimate Fighter.”
Sacramento’s Faber cemented his place as a pioneer in the lighter weight divisions after holding the WEC featherweight title for a span of over two years from 2006-2008. Boasting victories over the likes of Cruz, Jeff Curran and Jens Pulver at 145-pounds, “The California Kid” dropped to his more natural weight class of 135-pounds in November 2010 in search of his second world title. He’s since been on a tear, most recently submitting former champion Bowles at UFC® 139.
Now, the 32-year-old turns his attention to another one of his passions – coaching.
“I can’t wait to be the next coach on The Ultimate Fighter,” Faber, whose gym in Sacramento has helped produce UFC stars Benavidez, Chad Mendes and Danny Castillo, said. “I am looking forward to mentoring a bunch of hungry and talented fighters. The new cast needs to be ready to work hard and learn! Having Dominick coach on the opposite side couldn’t be more perfect. I’m not too thrilled about being in each other’s space for an extended period of time, as I am sure we are going to get on each other’s nerves. But I can’t wait to mentally beat him up as a coach, and then literally beat him up in the cage and swipe that UFC strap.”
