UFC 130 FILLED WITH BIG NAMES
March 11, 2011 by Matt
Eight rounds have not been enough to settle the score between UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard. On Memorial Day weekend, they will get five more to prove to the world who the UFC champ is, as they meet for the third time in the main event of UFC 130: Edgar vs. Maynard III, live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday, May 28.
“The last time Gray and Frankie fought, they put on one of the best fights of the year,” UFC President Dana White said. “It was the draw no one really complained about. I think a lot of people saw in that fight that Frankie Edgar is the real deal. This is the third and last time these two will come together and the stakes have never been higher.”
Plus, four highly-anticipated fights are on tap as former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson takes on Matt “The Hammer” Hamill, former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir meets Roy “Big Country” Nelson, rising star Stefan Struve is pitted against Travis Browne, and “All-American” Brian Stann mixes it up with returning middleweight Jorge Santiago.
With two back-to-back wins over UFC legend BJ Penn and a memorable comeback against Gray Maynard in their draw at UFC 125 in January, UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar (13-1-1) has won eight fights in the UFC. The only blemishes on the Summit, New Jersey native’s record are to Maynard – a 2008 unanimous decision loss and the New Year’s Day draw. With lightning-quick boxing and proven wrestling skills, the 29-year-old champion and former Division I college wrestler is focused on evening the score by pinning an “L” on the undefeated challenger’s record.
“I’m excited for our third fight and to have a definite winner,” Edgar said. “I want to go out there and prove that I am the best lightweight in the world. I feel honored to be a part of a trilogy like this. Like the Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture trilogy, I hope this is something fight fans remember for years. Our last two fights went to decision and I would love a finish this time so there are no doubts.”
On an amazing eight-fight win streak before the draw against Edgar, Gray Maynard (11-0-1, 1 NC) looks to keep his undefeated record alive and realize his dream of becoming UFC lightweight champion. The former three-time NCAA All-American wrestler at Michigan State has parlayed his success on the mat and has transitioned nicely into the Octagon. With wins over names such as Edgar, Kenny Florian, Jim Miller, Dennis Siver and Roger Huerta, Maynard has been in there with the best and has beaten the best.
“I’m very excited to fight Frank Edgar again at UFC 130,” Maynard said. “This is my chance to prove once and for all that I’m the best lightweight in the world. You’ll see me the most prepared and focused I’ve ever been. Nothing will keep me from holding the UFC lightweight belt on May 28th.”
One of the most exciting and electrifying fighters inside and outside the Octagon, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (31-8) has never been short of words or talent as one of the most recognized fighters in the world. The former UFC and PRIDE champion is coming off a big win against ex-title holder Lyoto Machida at UFC 123 and is looking to recapture the light heavyweight crown. First, he meets Matt Hamill (11-2), who holds notable victories over Tito Ortiz, Mark Munoz, Tim Boetsch and Keith Jardine. Now the 34-year-old is gearing up for the biggest fight of his career.
“Matt just took out Tito in his last fight and now he’s going after Rampage,” UFC President Dana White said. “He is really hitting his stride and he’s finally in big, marquee fights. He wanted this fight with Rampage and it should be really interesting.”
One of the most intriguing fights on the card, Frank Mir (14-5) vs. Roy Nelson (16-5) has the capability to be a slugfest or a technical ground war. Mir, the former UFC heavyweight champion, is coming off a huge win over mixed martial arts legend Mirko Cro Cop. The Las Vegas native knocked out the famed Croatian striker with a knee at UFC 119 and has won two of his last three including a submission victory over Cheick Kongo at UFC 107. Nelson, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt like Mir, has the submission skills to put anyone away in the UFC heavyweight division, but has won two of his last three fights by knockout, including two first-round stoppages over Stefan Struve and Brendan Schaub.
“This is a really fun fight,” UFC President Dana White said. “Mir vs. Big Country is a fight between two monster heavyweights with big knockout power and great submissions. They’ve both been around a long time and I’m excited for this fight.”
Two of the tallest fighters in UFC history, Stefan Struve (25-4) and Travis Browne (10-0-1) will make the Octagon look a lot smaller on fight night. The 6-foot-11 Struve has put together a quality run in the UFC, which includes wins in five of his last six fights – highlighted by his back-to-back knockouts over Christian Morecraft and Sean McCorkle. At 6-foot-7, Browne is not used to looking up when fighting opponents in the UFC. The Hawaiian remains unfazed though and turned heads in his UFC debut with a first-round knockout over James McSweeney. He then went the distance with UFC veteran Cheick Kongo in a draw at UFC 120.
A real American hero, Brian Stann (10-3) has gone from fighting on the battlefields as a decorated Marine to fighting in the Octagon and making plenty of noise in the UFC. Winner of four of his last five fights, including a memorable knockout over the then-unstoppable Chris Leben at UFC 125, Stann has his hands full with returning veteran Jorge Santiago (22-8). Winner of 11 of his last 12 fights since his last UFC appearance in 2006, including victories over Jeremy Horn, Kazuhiro Nakamura and Kazuo Misaki, the well-rounded Santiago has become a legit 185-pound contender in the last four years, making the timing perfect for his return to the Octagon.
HEADGEAR BY BAD BOY 50% OFF
March 11, 2011 by Matt
MMAHQ offers one great MMA gear deal a day. Today’s deal is on headgear by UFC sponsor, Bad Boy
Bad Boy Leather MMA Headgear for $40.
50% off the regular price. Top quality, leather construction.
Get your size before they’re all gone.
JUST SHONIE BEING SHONIE
March 10, 2011 by Matt
That’s just Shonie being Shonie, right? That pic is from his Facebook page. Right now, Mr. International is living up to his nickname — he’s in Bulgaria for the Max Fight 19 event. Shonie will take on European Sambo champion Rumen Dimitrov of Bulgaria.
UFC’S MICHAEL BISPING TRADES PUNCHES WITH FAN
March 4, 2011 by Matt
UFC fighter Michael Bisping had some fun after his UFC 127 fight in Australia. When a fan asked if he could punch Bisping in the stomach, Bisping let him. Then Bisping got to throw his own shots.
It was all in good fun…at least for Bisping. That other dude likely needed more than booze to take the pain away the next day.
h/t: TMZ
SHOGUN RUA UFC 128 BAD BOY WALKOUT TEE
March 4, 2011 by Matt
Mauricio “Shogun” Rua will battle Jon Jones at UFC 128 to defend his UFC light-heavyweight title. He’ll enter the arena with a new walkout shirt. It’s available in Black, Brazil Blue or White.
PAT CURRAN VS. EDDIE ALVAREZ AT BELLATOR 39
March 3, 2011 by Matt
Team Curran’s Pat Curran shocked the MMA community in beating UFC vet Roger Huerta at Bellator 17. He then defeated submission specialist Toby Imada last June. He was scheduled to fight Eddie Alvarez for the Bellator Lightweight Title at Bellator 33, but he was sidelined by injury. Now, that fight will happen.
Bellator Fighting Championships will make its fourth trip to Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT for Bellator 39 on Saturday, April 2nd. The action packed card will be headlined by a World Title Fight between Bellator Lightweight World Champion Eddie Alvarez against Season 2 Lightweight Tournament winner Pat Curran.
“Returning to Mohegan Sun in Season 4 was a high priority for us – Mohegan Sun has a spectacular venue, a great gaming facility and a luxurious hotel. I’m really looking forward to our return,” said Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney. “Putting together an incredible night of fights is only one part of the equation – having a great place to show it is the other and Mohegan Sun is the perfect venue for this event.”
“We are excited to welcome back Bellator for what will be our fourth event together,” said Tom Cantone, Vice President of Sports & Entertainment at Mohegan Sun. “We look forward to what will be another great night of exciting finishes and sports entertainment.”
In addition to the championship fight, the evening will also feature semifinal fights in the Season 4 Welterweight Tournament, a Bellator debut for Ben “Killa B” Saunders, who will take on Bellator and Strikeforce veteran Matt Lee, and a host of exciting Local Feature Fights
THE PROBLEM OF JON FITCH
Who won the BJ Penn vs. Jon Fitch fight at UFC 127? A majority draw was the official result, but it just depends on who you’re asking.
Dana White:
“I didn’t think it was a draw. I looked at the scorecards and the two judges who had it a draw scored the first two rounds for Penn and the third round a 10-8 [for Fitch]… Personally, I scored the first two rounds for Penn and had him winning the fight. There’s no doubt B.J. got pounded in the third round, but that wasn’t a 10-8 round.”
Jon Fitch:
“Finally watched the fight back myself. first rnd draw and I won rnd 2 and 3. I will prove myself if I must. But I know I won that fight. Much respect to BJ. He is the legend I thought he was. I think that was the best BJ ANY of us have ever seen.”
Chicago’s MMA had it 10-9 Penn, and then both rounds 2 and 3 10-9 for Fitch.
Chicago’s MMA writer LJ Tabano: “I feel bad for Fitch because this set him back a lot, and I believe not just in the title race either. Everyone knows Dana doesn’t want him to fight for title because of the marketability limitations…and I doubt Fitch will be a headliner again. Fitch is a winner but he’s the type of fighter the UFC can afford to lose to Strikeforce — he’s what Matt Lindland was in the early 2000′s. He doesn’t sell tix… and he didn’t win over anyone with his performance.”
I actually really like watching Fitch fight. Before Frankie Edgar, it was virtually impossible for anyone to get BJ down, let alone stay on top for the entire round and beat the tar out of him. Fitch was able to do that in round 3.
Fitch could do himself favors by adhering to what his corner told him between rounds: if the shot is unsuccessful, disengage, throw strikes and try it again. Standing there with his rear end in the camera and head lodged between someone’s legs for 15-30 seconds is what makes people think he’s boring. Thing is, at the same time he is making them work by defending the takedown and wearing them down, but the perception is much different. The perception is that it’s boring.
The other thing he could do is ground and pound but then look for the sub. Fans want finishers. Submitting Penn might have been out of the question, but inevitably Fitch has to start finishing fights. He hasn’t had a submission win since 2007, and hasn’t scored a KO since 2006.
I personally enjoy watching Fitch mount people and ruthlessly beat them up for 5 minutes at a time. But that’s not what sells tickets and pay-per-views. That performance the other night would not have been good enough to beat GSP. So Fitch needs to get with Dave Camarillo and work on the other aspects of his game that people want to see. Maybe not for his true fans, or himself, but to please his bosses and continue to work toward a title shot.
Fitch beats people up and wins lots of fights. Ironically, it turns out that can be a problem.
MMA SHORTS OFFER FROM MMAHQ
March 1, 2011 by Matt
MMAHQ offers one great MMA gear deal a day. Today’s deal is on fight shorts by UFC sponsor out of Brazil, Venum.:
Neo Fight Shorts in Brown by Venum for $30.
These ultra lightweight fight shorts are made of 100% high quality microfiber. Reinforced, split seams.
Get your size before they’re all gone.
BJ PENN RVCA UFC 127 SHIRTS
February 28, 2011 by Matt
BJ Penn fought to a draw in his UFC 127 fight against Jon Fitch, and now his 2 new shirts from RVCA are available.
BIMA CHICAGO: CYRUS WASHINGTON MUAY THAI SEMINAR
February 28, 2011 by Matt
Cyrus Washington aka “Black Dynamite” is one of the most accomplished American kickboxers. Washington has trained and fought out of Tiger Muay Thai and MMA in Phuket, Thailand. In February of 2010, Washington beat Harlee Por Pramuk to win the PK-1 Championship Belt at Patong Boxing Stadium.
Washington is coming to BIMA Chicago for a one-day seminar on March 26th. Details below on the flyer.
