Source: http://www.fighters.com/02/22/sergei-kharitonov-believes-fedor-lacks-competition-in-his-camp
As Dave Meltzer wrote about, Jorge Rivera's smack talk has gotten under Michael Bisping's skin as they head towards their UFC 127 bout in Australia. As this video shows, Rivera is not letting up. Warning: there is bad language and possibly offensive stereotypes on this video. (It's based on a "South Park" bit, if that gives you any hint.)
Well now. That's certainly not going to create an air of respect between the fighters. What's impressive is the lengths that Rivera went to create an air of authenticity in this video, unless he's the kind of guy to have costumes from around the world just sitting in a box in his basement.
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueria discusses with Gary Alexander Anderson Silva's win over Vitor Belfort, Junio Dos Santos VS Brock Lesnar, and his hip surgery.@fightersonlyusa @Imgaryalexander www.fightersonlymag.com
Just 10 days before she's set to defend her Strikeforce title belt for the first time, Marloes Coenen has been given a new opponent.
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Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/02/23/liz-carmouche-to-challenge-marloes-coenen-miesha-tate-injured/
Sugar Ray Robinson Rocky Marciano Vitali Klitschko Wladimir Klitscho
Nick Ring stepped into the cage on Saturday for the first time since suffering a serious knee injury when he was an Ultimate Fighter contestant a year ago, beating Riki Fukuda by unanimous decision at UFC 127. But it's hard to find much to celebrate in the win for Ring, as it was lousy judging that took the victory from Fukuda.
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Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/02/26/ufc-127-results-nick-ring-wins-riki-fukuda-robbed/
Source: http://www.proboxing-fans.com/alvarez-hatton-conference-call-quotes-with-oscar-de-la-hoya_022611/
Fight Hub TV caught up with Brandon Vera as we talked in depth about the current situation regarding Thiago Silva's murky drug test result from their bout at UFC 125.David Haye Cornelius K9 Bundrage Miguel Cotto Manny Pacquiao
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Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/02/26/ufc-should-shut-down-homophobic-slurs/
Source: http://www.fighters.com/02/21/5-reasons-bj-penn-could-beat-jon-fitch
Fight Hub TV caught up with Brandon Vera as we talked in depth about the current situation regarding Thiago Silva's murky drug test result from their bout at UFC 125.
Source: http://www.fighters.com/02/26/5-reasons-to-watch-ufc-on-versus-3-sanchez-vs-kampmann
Source: http://www.mmaforum.com/ufc-multimedia/88090-ufc-127-fights-pack-weigh-ins-flv-sym.html
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Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/02/26/ufc-should-shut-down-homophobic-slurs/
With the mystery of Thiago Silva's drug test from UFC 125 continues to go unsolved, MMAjunkie is now reporting that the Nevada State Athletic Commission will soon overturn his victory over Brandon Vera and turned it into a "no contest."
Vera's contract was terminated by the UFC. If the fight is a no contest, that could mean the light heavyweight's status with the promotion is changed.
Heavy.com had a conversation with Vera about the loss and the news that Silva may have tested positive. There are also rumors that Silva submitted synthetic urine.
"I have no idea what’s going on," Vera stated on the latest episode of The Ryan Loco Show. "He could’ve tested positive for marijuana. I honestly don’t think that’s a performance enhancing drug. If he does test positive for some kind of strength enhancing substance, it would make me feel a little bit better about myself."
Vera said he works with an excellent camp and also rolls with the Nogueira brothers, but felt surprisingly weak under Silva at UFC 125.
"I remember when I was underneath him and I was pushing him back and forth. I was thinking, ‘What the hell? Why is this guy so damn strong?’ And I remember thinking during the fight, ‘Yo, I gotta start lifting weights again.’ He was one of, if not the strongest dudes I ever rolled with in my life. Strong b******."
Silva so dominated Vera that he broke his nose down the stretch and was spanking the Filipino-American in the final round. Vera had a strong response to that show of disrespect.
"You know, I’m glad you were happy winning the way you were. It’s cool, man. It’s cool. If this thing comes back and you did do whatever you did and I make it back to the UFC, on your welcoming back party, I want to make sure I’m the one you get to fight," Vera said. "And I promise if you take me down, I’m going to get back up. Then I’m going to punish you on the feet just like I did while we were fighting, until you took me down. Then you gave it to me, but you won’t take me down next fight. So I’m glad you got to showboat. I’m glad you got to win, kind of. But I’m gonna see you again soon, bud."
With Silva facing a suspension and Vera recover from the broken nose, that fight won't happen anytime soon, but it'll be interesting lead up to the fight if the UFC chooses to rematch the fighters.
Tip via MMAConvert
Sugar Ray Leonard Sugar Ray Robinson Rocky Marciano Vitali Klitschko
Paul Daley doesn't do anything fancy: He just punches really hard.Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/02/26/paul-daley-knocks-out-yuya-shirai-nick-diaz-may-be-next/
Source: http://www.ufc-video.co.cc/2011/02/george-sotiropoulos-the-truth-machine/
With the merger of the WEC into the UFC, Zuffa just pushed the 135 and 145-lb weight classes to the forefront. Is it too soon to start talking about the 125ers?
There are several prominent flyweights featured on a Tachi Palace card in Lemoore, California, who'd like to be the next small fighters to step into the spotlight.
The Visalia Times Delta says Tachi Palace Fights 8 (free stream on MMAjunkie.com - 8:30 p.m. ET) is essentially holding its own 125-tournament tonight:
TPF 125-pound champion Ulysses Gomez (7-1) will defend his title in a 5-round bout against Darrell Montague (8-1), and Jussier da Silva (9-0), who is regarded as the world's top 125-pound fighter, will put his undefeated record on the line against World Extreme Cagefighting veteran Ian McCall (8-2).
Tachi Palace Fighting knows it has something specials with the flyweights.
"It is the most important weight class we have," said Tachi Palace entertainment coordinator Jeremy Luchau. "Some people do see it as a tournament because we have some of the best guys in the world. It is an opportunity for guys who have been in our promotion to showcase their skills against some of the top fighters from around the world."
There's also a ton of intrigue around the debut of another small fighter, but this guy is a little thicker. Tyler Freeland, a little person at just 4-foot-11, is making his pro debut.
Freeland, nicknamed "Hulk Hands," put together an impressive 16-4 mark in the amateur ranks.
"It’s dwarfism, a bone disorder where my bones stopped growing," Freeland told Sherdog.com in describing his hypochondroplasia. "I’m about four eleven, but I tell everyone I’m five feet. I need that extra inch."
Walking around 160 pounds, Freeland is no tiny guy. But he realizes, he'd have a tough time at 155 pounds, where many of the fighters are in the 5-9 to 5-11 range. He'll make his debut at 145 and hopes to eventually get down to 135. Freeland, 26, recently began training at Las Vegas' TapouT Training Center with Shawn Tompkins.
Tompkins said just like any fighter, Freeland, 26, has to work around certain limitations.
"With his height, it’s always harder to strike with someone taller than you," Tompkins says, "but it’s harder to wrestle with someone shorter. Their level-change is so much faster than yours."
He said Freeland has something you can't necessarily teach.
"What most impressed me is that he has a lot of power in his hands," he adds. "He’s got KO power and very big hands. He hits hard and is very precise. He has a really good wrestling pedigree. I’ve just been banking on rounding his game out, keeping him safe from submissions and working on his standup. We’ve been having fun and building from there."
Freeland faces Diego Melendez. They met in the amateur ranks and Melendez won via triangle. Freeland says he took that fight on short notice and things will be different this time.
Bob Arum irked mixed martial arts followers a few years back when he said the majority of fans were "skinhead white guys."
Even with MMA pay-per-view and arena audiences exploding across the U.S. and the world, Arum still believes MMA's scope is limited.
"It's the same audience over and over," Arum told USA Today. "It's white males, and they have never been able to expand their demographic."
For that reason, the UFC and MMA can only reach certain heights according to Arum.
"The Hispanics don't care anything for it. Most African-Americans don't watch it. Hey, this country is becoming more and more Hispanic, and it's growing African-American (in the) audience," Arum said.
"So the future success of UFC is limited. The success of boxing is not, because boxing reaches those groups. The only demographic that boxing has lost is the white, young males, period."
Arum believes the fight market includes all males and that MMA doesn't draw the eyes of Hispanics and African-Americans. He also hints at the fact that boxing may experience a resurgence if it can mend fences with network television and deliver more of its product for free.
We posted the latest fan video from Strikeforce. The audience at the Izod Center appeared to be pretty diverse.
Source: http://www.boxing-blog.com/index.php/amir-khan-ready-floyd-mayweather/
Source: http://www.fighters.com/02/24/ufc-127-watching-over-times-square
Filed under: WBA, WBO, Golden Boy Promotions, Boxing Video, Boxing Rumors, HBO, FanHouse Exclusive
Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.
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Source: http://boxing.fanhouse.com/2011/02/23/erik-morales-rips-manny-pacquiao-talks-marcos-rene-maidana/
Source: http://www.fighters.com/02/24/ufc-127-watching-over-times-square
As a reminder, the UFC's traditional pre-event preview show returns tonight with the debut of "Countdown to UFC 127" on Spike TV.
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David Haye Cornelius K9 Bundrage Miguel Cotto Manny Pacquiao
Source: http://www.proboxing-fans.com/eddie-chambers-wants-david-haye-5-questions-with-chambers_022311/
Source: http://www.fighters.com/02/24/commentary-ufc-127-edge-goes-to-fitch-bisping-sotiropoulos
Former pro wrestling star Bobby Lashley lost the last time he stepped into the mixed martial arts cage, but he's not done fighting.
Filed under: WBA, WBC, WBO, Boxing Rumors, HBO, Showtime, FanHouse Exclusive, Top Rank Promotions
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Source: http://boxing.fanhouse.com/2011/02/22/antonio-margarito-on-his-recovery-manny-pacquiao-miguel-cotto/
With the UFC headed to Australia next weekend, the promotion is holding an auction to benefit the victims of the massive flooding that has hit Australia in the past few months. Fans can bid on fighters' items, the Octagon canvas or a special fight night experience at UFC 127, and the money raised will benefit the Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal, a special fund that will help Queensland residents who have been hit so hard by the floods.
The crown jewel of the auction is the UFC 127 Fight Night experience. From the press release:
Ultimate Aussie UFC 127 Fan Experience – BIDDING ENDS 7PM (AEST) TUESDAY FEB 22
The ultimate way to experience the biggest fight card in Australian history! You and a friend will have unbelievable access behind-the-scenes at both the weigh-in and on fight day, to the Octagon, and to the combatants and guest fighters. You’ll stay for two nights in a two-bedroom apartment at the official UFC 127 host hotel, Star City, have breakfast with UFC star Kenny Florian, plus much, much more.
Breakfast with Kenny Florian comes with the right to rip on him for wearing skinny jeans.
Travel to Sydney for the fights is not included, but it's an incredible experience for fans with the means to get to Australia quickly, or who already live Down Under. Those who can't make it to Sydney can still bid on Michael Bisping's fight gloves, the Octagon Canvas and other fantastic signed memorabilia by clicking here.
Queensland, the province of Australia that is home to Brisbane and the Great Barrier Reef, has been devastated by flooding. Coal mining, the main industry of the region, has been shut down. Thousands have been evacuated from their homes, and the country estimates that the clean-up will cost more than $5 billion dollars.
This is the second time the UFC has visited Australia, and the Aussies have been good to the promotion. Until UFC 129 in Toronto's on-sale, UFC 127 was their fastest sellout in history. The UFC is saying thank you in a way that will truly have meaning.
Source: http://www.ufc-video.co.cc/2011/02/quiet-count-gets-to-talk-this-weekend/
Wladimir Klitscho David Haye Cornelius K9 Bundrage Miguel Cotto
Source: http://www.fightmatrix.com/2011/02/15/mma-statistics-page-coming-soon/
Source: http://www.mmatko.com/bas-rutten-on-the-joe-rogan-weekly-podcast/
Filed under: WBA, WBO, Golden Boy Promotions, Boxing Video, Boxing Rumors, HBO, FanHouse Exclusive
Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.
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Source: http://boxing.fanhouse.com/2011/02/23/come-backing-erik-morales-has-some-boxing-fans-support/
Source: http://www.fighters.com/02/19/top-5-best-moments-of-strikeforce-challengers-14
Source: http://www.fighters.com/02/22/ufc-127-penn-vs-fitch-picks-and-predictions
Cornelius K9 Bundrage Miguel Cotto Manny Pacquiao Ricky Hatton
Source: http://www.boxing-blog.com/index.php/klitschko-brothers-issue-challenge-david-haye/
Source: http://www.fighters.com/02/21/what-if-he-wins-featuring-jon-fitch
Source: http://www.fighters.com/02/19/now-its-official-jorge-santiago-signs-multi-fight-deal-with-the-ufc
When Mike Brown lost to Rani Yahya at Fight for the Troops 2, I quickly wondered what it meant for the future of the man who stopped Urijah Faber's reign atop the WEC's featherweight division. Brown lost twice in January, first to Diego Nunes a UFC 125 and then to Yahya. With the UFC-WEC merger putting extra pressure on fighters to perform, would Brown find himself on the end of an unpleasant call from the UFC?
Brown kept his job, and is now recovering from an injury he suffered in the Yahya bout. With time to think, he's thought about losing and his future in the sport.
"I thought I might be gone now. I'm just grateful that Sean Shelby, Joe Silva, and Dana White, you know, I think they like me. They kept me around and I wasn't sure I still had a job. They said, 'You're okay; get your body sorted out and we know what you're capable of.' I was just so grateful for that. I know that if I lose another one...well, I'm not necessarily that worried about just getting cut, but maybe it's time for me to go away. I'm not in it to be average."
Because Brown's championship came late in his career, it can be easy to forget that he's not young. He will turn 36 this year, and he's fought in 34 bouts. Two fights in a month are trying for fighters in their mid-20s. Consider how much harder it is for a man who not only is in his mid-30s but who has been fighting since 2001.
For now, Brown will heal and try to get back his winning edge. He'll also spend time with his two new kittens, Thunder and Mickey.
With the UFC's traditional pre-event preview show returning this week for UFC 127, a March installment also is now schedule with "Countdown to UFC 128."
Filed under: UFC
The press in Australia will get a chance to question UFC UK president Marshall Zelaznik and more at the UFC 127 pre-fight press conference, and we'll carry the video live here at MMAFighting.com.Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/02/22/ufc-127-press-conference-video/
You have to wonder how Jake Shields is taking all of this talk of Georges St. Pierre vs. Anderson Silva. He has a chance to be a heckuva spoiler in April.
Silva did his part to make the future superfight by smashing Vitor Belfort at UFC 126. If GSP can take out Shields in April, it sounds like the UFC is ready put its middleweight and welterweight champs into a dream bout.
Dana White gives St. Pierre, the smaller fighter at 5-foot-11, more than a shot.
"Stylistically it's an interesting fight," White said to the Canadian Press. "Georges St. Pierre destroys wrestlers. No matter how long you've been wrestling, no matter how good of a wrestler you are, he will take you down, he'll put you on your back and he'll keep you there. He can probably do that to Anderson Silva too. Who knows?"
The UFC president said if GSP can get by Shields, both fighters indicated they're willing to take the fight. It's a big move for St. Pierre, who would likely vacate his welterweight title for a permanent switch to 185 pounds. He said last month, he'd need some time to build his body up and make the jump.
White said the fight poses a few challenges.
"The most difficult part of putting together this fight is where we’re going to hold it," White said. "Do we go back to Toronto? Do we do Dallas? What do you do?"
The UFC is in Toronto for UFC 129 on Apr. 30. The Rogers Centre, formerly known as Skydome, will be configure for 42,000. Dallas is a big step up from there. Cowboys Stadium seats around 80,000. The Jerry Dome has already hosted two Manny Pacquiao fights. Those fight cards both pulled in over 40,000. The stadium's super-sized HD scoreboard, that stretches from one 20-yard line to the other, would make viewing the fight a good experience in the cheap seats.
Silva was asked where he'd like to face GSP.
"If it were up to me, I’d like to have that fight in Brazil. But if that’s not gonna be able to happen, I'd like to have my fight here in Vegas," Silva said through his translator Ed Soares. "I consider Vegas like home away from home. This is where I won my belt and I feel very comfortable and this is where I'd like to fight."
Late this summer, the UFC is hitting Rio De Janeiro, so it's unlikely the promotion would quickly turnaround and hold another fight in Brazil. August is too soon for St. Pierre to add the necessary weight for the fight.
Las Vegas' biggest arena is the Thomas & Mack Center which can hold 18,500. The UFC holds most of its Sin City cards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena (16,500) or the Mandalay Bay Events Center (11,500).
Forgive me, folks. The lighting was garbage in the back alley where they held the post-fight press activities, and I forgot to turn my camera light on here so don't hate too much for the green and grainy mess you see above. The audio still works fine!
So, about an hour after Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva did the unthinkable and beat Fedor Emelianenko for the third time in his career, Silva told us how it felt, if this was his plan all along, if he was surprised that Fedor seemed unable to do anything on his back and if Fedor will retire for good. Then he palms my microphone and mocks me. Frikkin' giants.Rocky Marciano Vitali Klitschko Wladimir Klitscho David Haye
Filed under: WBA, WBC, WBO, Golden Boy Promotions, Boxing Video, Boxing Rumors, HBO, FanHouse Exclusive, Top Rank Promotions
Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.
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Source: http://boxing.fanhouse.com/2011/02/22/meet-nonito-donaires-sparring-partner/
Evgeni Kogan Says Fedor Loss Doesn't Affect M-1 Global's Future Video by M-1 GlobalVitali Klitschko Wladimir Klitscho David Haye Cornelius K9 Bundrage
Scott Coker Strongly Believes Fedor Emelianenko Will Fight Again Video by Scott Coker
Source: http://www.mmaforum.com/strikeforce/87897-overeem-werdum-barnett-rogers-off-april-9th-card.html
Georges St-Pierre Mauricio Rua Anderson Silva Nate Marquardt
In a rare weekend without a major MMA event, the last of those for several weeks, MMA fans had a variety of topics on their mind.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mmajunkie/~3/_squm7M_DIA/the-sunday-junkie-feb-20-edition.mma
Filed under: WBA, WBC, WBO, Boxing Rumors, HBO, FanHouse Exclusive, Top Rank Promotions
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Source: http://boxing.fanhouse.com/2011/02/19/marco-antonio-barrera-on-manny-pacquiao-erik-morales-and-more/
