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Mike Chiappetta of MMAFighting.com is reporting that injuries have sidelined both Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard, forcing the cancellation of UFC 130′s main event fight, MMA Fighting has learned.
UFC president Dana White confirmed to MMA Fighting that both fighters are out.
(3:11 PM ET Update): Chiappetta via Twiter — Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, guys. Frankie broke ribs and Gray suffered a knee injury, sources tell me
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Credit: Wrestling Observer
UFC announced today that they are going to be offering injury insurance to fighters which would extend to injuries suffered in training that would go into effect on 6/1.
In a story by Kevin Iole at http://www.yahoo.com in the UFC section, UFC Chairman Lorenzo Fertitta said that UFC would now cover the approximately 350 to 400 fighters now under contract.
Fertitta said UFC would pay the premiums and the insurance would be through Houston Casualty Insurance Company, and would cover training related injuries. Fight related injuries had already been covered by UFC. Full health care insurance like is provided in many jobs covering doctor’s visits, non-injury related health issues and prescription drugs would not be covered with the new policy.
It would also cover injuries not related to training, such as an automobile accident during the period any fighter is under contract to the organization. Diseases would not be covered.
UFC had paid for training related operations and medical bills for some fighters in the past, but it was not a uniform policy.
It is believed to be the first fighting organization to offer this type of insurance. WWE pays for medical bills for injuries related to in-ring. TNA does not in most cases.
On the this episode officially sponsored by WrestleChat.net, Nikki Heyman and the crew usher in the brand new era of the NAWC, discussing the wild week that was in the WWE, including THE ROCK and his birthday celebration, RANDY ORTON winning the World Heavyweight Championship in a move that shocked many fans, plus a recap of UFC 129. Plus is TNA no longer TNA? All that plus so much more!
Download the Podcast – HERE
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THQ announced during their conference call last week that the most recent SmackDown vs. RAW and the new WWE All Stars video games shipped over 4 million units total. By comparison, THQ’s most recent UFC Undisputed game shipped 3 million units.
THQ posted a $44.1 million loss in the fourth quarter of their fiscal year and a total loss of $136.1 million for the whole fiscal year.
Recently, the issue of teammates/training partners fighting each other has become a hot button issue in the sport of MMA. The conversation began with the prospect of UFC 205’ers Jon “Bones” Jones and Rashad Evans (both Greg Jackson trained fighters) having to fight each other. After interviews with conflicting messages and some initial bad blood, it was decided that the two would have to face each other for the title later this year. Anticlimactically enough, it was announced (shortly thereafter) that the fight would not happen, due to an injury suffered by Jones.
The loudest comments coming out of a lot of camps were that training partners didn’t want to fight each other. Those were the initial reactions, but as the dust clouds have settled, and everyone has had a chance to really think it over, some of the responses have changed.
I recently did interviews with several UFC fighters who didn’t seem to think it was a big deal at all. Roy Nelson was adamant that he would “fight anyone”.
When I spoke with Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone, he said, “I’d fight a teammate. We do it every day in the gym. At the end of the day, it’s about having a career. I fully support all of my teammates and I will help them with whatever, but when it comes down to it, you have to do what’s best for your career.”
UFC middleweight Kendall Grove was more vocal about the concept. When asked if he would fight a teammate, this was his response: “If it comes down to it. If the price is right, I would! I could fight my best friend, and if it’s for a good reason, and that good reason is money. How do I do that (pay bills)? I need money. How do I get that? I gotta fight. Let’s just go out there and fight! I don’t care! That’s the business! A lot of these guys gotta stop crying and lollygagging. Like, c’mon dog, we’re in the HURT business. Fight! If not, then don’t ever say “Well, I coulda been the champion.” Go try and BE the champ! Our job requires us to fight other people. People gotta stop being sensitive. You can quote me on that!”
Frank Mir went as far as to say (in a recent video interview with RawVegas.tv) that he was going to stop training with other heavyweights because he might have to fight them (in the UFC) someday.
Dana White has always been adamant about friends and teammates needing to be willing to fight each other. In October of 2010, he asserted that cowardice was a driving factor in some teammates not being willing to fight each other. “Me personally, what I think, is when one guy says, ‘Oh, he’s my friend I won’t fight him,’ that means, ‘I train with this guy and this guy’s probably going to kick my ass,’” White asserted. “That’s what I get out of that – ‘I’m not confident enough to fight this guy.’ (source:fightline.com)”
It will be interesting to see what comes of it all. Will we ever see Koscheck vs. Fitch? How about Jake Shields vs. Nick Diaz? If Diaz fights GSP eventually and is able to beat him (which is a totally separate conversation to have), does Jake Shields move up to 185 lbs. just to avoid fighting him?
So far, push has never really come to shove. A fighter has not been told that he has to fight a teammate…or else. Is it that improbable to think it could happen? Will we start to see camps that are devoted to just one weight class? Will we start to see more fighters leaving camps over the prospect of potentially having to fight someone they train with?
These are all problems that will need to be addressed, but it seems all are inevitable bridges to be crossed. Dana White and the Fertitta’s have always pushed for the best guys fighting each other. If this is to continue to happen, it seems foreseeable that we will see some fights made that were previously somewhat unthinkable.
Here are some other notable teammate matchups that we could possibly see, barring one of the fighters leaving that particular camp:
- Shane Carwin vs. Brendan Schaub (Jackson MMA)
- Melvin Guillard vs. Clay Guida (Jackson MMA)
- Joseph Benavidez vs. Urijah Faber (Team Alpha Male)
- Chael Sonnen vs. Jason ‘Mayhem’ Miller (Team Quest)
- Cole Miller vs. Mark Bocek (American Top Team)
- Gray Maynard vs. Evan Dunham (Xtreme Couture)
- If Jay Hieron ever signs with Zuffa: Hieron vs. Martin Kampmann (Xtreme Couture)
- If Marlon Sandro eventually signs with Zuffa: Sandro vs. Jose Aldo Jr. (Nova Uniao)
- “Jacare” Souza vs. Anderson Silva (Black House MMA)
On Saturday night, before the pay per view began, I was having a conversation with some friends about the state of the sport of MMA. This one friend in particular was telling me about a girl he knows who constantly gets on him for watching the UFC and MMA. She believes it is a brutal sport, and denounces it as ‘inhumane brutality’.
My initial reaction is to ignore that perspective. I admit to having an outright bias and a proclivity towards explaining away certain aspects of the sport, and forgiving them for their trespasses on principle.
When I was talking to this friend of mine, I brought up how safely the UFC regulates its fights and its fighters. I talked about the extensive medical suspensions doled out after each fight card, and how, if a fighter suffers any kind of head injury, he is not even allowed to train for a specified amount of time. Dana White has always passionately argued that the UFC is safer than sports like Pro Football because of the extra steps taken to protect its athletes. I have always believed him.
I’m not saying that I’m changing my tune. I still do believe that the UFC works hard to take care of their athletes. I believe they make concerted efforts to be on the up-and-up, and to do things the right way.
All I know is that on Saturday night, I had an apartment full of people (men and women alike), who either refused to look at the screen, or looked with mouths agape in sheer horror of what they were seeing.
If you missed it and/or haven’t seen it yet, Mark Hominick suffered possibly the worst hematoma we have ever seen in the MMA. I aim not to be purposely crass, but in all sincerity, it looked like a small melon was trying to escape from Hominick’s forehead. It was terrible, and even I (a person with a very strong stomach) was a little squeamish.
Every time his opponent, Jose Aldo Jr., threw any kind of strike to the head, the entire group of spectators winced simultaneously. As the fight went on, the swelling on Hominick’s forehead only grew, and grew worse.
Several times, the referee, “Big” John McCarthy was given an opportunity to stop the fight. He asked Hominick if he was okay and if he wanted to continue. Based on the response he received, he let the fight go the distance.
In retrospect, it looks to have been the right move. Hominick was able to finish, and was very nearly able to take the victory over a clearly gassed Aldo (before Hominick simply ran out of time). From a competition standpoint, it was the right move.
My question is this: Did the risk outweigh the reward? What if Aldo had been more vicious and went for the hematoma with an elbow or a knee. If he had been cut at that spot, the results could have been some of the most gruesome in live television history. It didn’t happen, and so, as fans, we exhale and move on without giving it a second thought. I just can’t help but wonder what that fight, and decisions like that one (to let the fight continue) do for the way the sport of MMA is viewed by the uneducated public.
Personally, as a loyal fight fan, I’m unperturbed by it. I thought it was an amazing fight, and I come away from it thinking very highly of Hominick and the way he fought through his injury. I guess what it comes down to is that the sport of MMA (in particular the UFC) has to decide how much they care what its opposition thinks of them.
Currently, Mixed Martial Arts is illegal in the state of New York. Dana White has been aggressively working to change this, but it has been to no avail. Does a fight like the Aldo-Hominick bout set back White’s progress? Will it make lawmakers think twice about giving the UFC a shot in their state?
You know where I stand. I love MMA. I think it should be legal everywhere. It’s just food for thought.
ESPN.com has reported a 7/30 Strikeforce show from Chicago will be headlined by Fedor Emelianenko vs. Dan Henderson. It had been well known for more than a month that this would likely be the main event, but the report said all terms have been agreed to.
The following results are courtesy of our friends over at MMAJunkie.
UFC 129 St. Pierre vs Shields Quick Results
Pablo Garza def. Yves Jabouin via submission (triangle choke)
John Makdessi def. Kyle Watson via knockout (spinning back fist)
Jason MacDonald def. Ryan Jensen via submission (triangle choke)
Ivan Menjivar def. Charlie Valencia via TKO (strikes)
Claude Patrick def. Daniel Roberts via unanimous decision
Jake Ellenberger def. Sean Pierson via KO (punch)
Rory MacDonald def. Nate Diaz via unanimous decision
Ben Henderson def. Mark Bocek via unanimous decision
Vladimir Matyushenko def. Jason Brilz via knockout (punches)
Lyoto Machida def. Randy Couture via knockout (kick)
Champ Jose Aldo def. Mark Hominick via unanimous decision
Champ Georges St Pierre def. Jake Shields via unanimous decision
PABLO GARZA VS. YVES JABOUIN
Round 1 – The fighters trade shorts early and then reset and circle. The lankier Garza is the aggressor, but Jabouin backs him up with low kicks and punches. Garza lands a nice straight right and kick to the body. Jabouin tries to counter, but Garza puts him in the clinch and partially connects on knees. Jabouin breaks off a lands nice spinning back kick that delights the crowd. A low kick then drops Garza, and he follows it with another. Jabouin waits for him to get back. Garza clinches in the center of the cage before breaking off and landing a low kick. Jabouin tags him with a punch that dislodges Garza’s mouthpiece for a quick timeout. Jabouin lands a few more low kicks. Garza is pressing the action but getting peppered with shots. Jabouin throws a leg, but Garza answers with a couple of his own. Jabouin moves forward, but Garza slaps on a flying triangle choke on the way to the mat. It’s right, and Garza torques it before rolling over for a mounted triangle. Garza stays alert as Garza rolls again, and he’s somehow surviving for nearly a minute. But finally, the tap-out comes. Pablo Garza def. Yves Jabouin via submission (triangle choke) – Round 1, 4:31
Judges: Claude Paquette, Sal D’Amato and Doug Crosby
JOHN MAKDESSI VS. KYLE WATSON
Round 1 – Makdessi is the clear crowd favorite in this one. The fighters trade jabs early in a feeling-out process. Makdessi lands a low kick and quick left. Little action as the fighters circle. Watson’s head kick is checked. Makdessi answers with a soft low kick and then a front kick. Watson moves in with punches, but not much is landing. Watson nearly catches a kick. Makdessi slows Watson’s advance with a low kick. Still not a lot of action in this one. Watson shoots, but Makdessi easily stuffs it but then is knocked a bit off balance by a low kick. Makdessi moves in with some rapid-fire punches. Watson moves in with some solid shots but takes a counter before resetting. Makdessi fires off a spinning side kick but doesn’t have a ton behind it. Makdessi tries again but hits the thigh with little behind it. The pace slows. Watson misses with a quick Superman punch. The ref wants to see some action. Watson misses high with a kick. Both swing and miss in the final 10 seconds. It’s close and action-light round, but MMAjunkie.com scores it 10-9 for Makdessi.
Round 2 – Still little action, and the crowd is growing restless. Watson initiates and land some punches and a knee before Makdessi breaks off. Watson tries a body kick that’s checked. Makdessi lands a nice straight right, but Watson answers. The fighters reset and circle again. Watson lands a solid head kick that sends sweat flying off Makdessi’s head. Makdessi, though, goes on the offensive and throws a variety of shots. Watson then shoot, but Makdessi easily stuffs it. Watson lands a knee but eats a counter punch. Watson goes high with a kick, but Makdessi blocks it. Watson moves in with punches, but the accuracy just idn’t there. The crowd wants some action. Makdessi whiffs on a spinning back fist, and Watson clinches but can’t get it to the mat. Makdessi tries again, but Watson pops him with a couple quick punches. Makdessi lands a quick and solid right before moving back out. The fighters trade kicks that miss their mark. Makdessi lands a nice left as Watson moves in but eats a body kick. Watson creates distance with a front kick but eats another right, and Watson may have been hurt a bit. The round ends. It was a great head kick for Watson, but Makdessi came back to win the round on our scorecard, 10-9.
Round 3 – Makdessi comes out with quick footwork but does little but dance. Watson catches a kick, clinches and puts his opponent against the cage and is obviously desperate to get the takedown. He can’t get it, and Makdessi pops him and cuts him on the break with a blow. Watson is bleeding from under the left eye as is trying to wipe the blood. Makdessi then spins and instantly knocks out Watson with a spinning back fist to the chin, and this fight suddenly is over to a roar of awe. Watson hit the mat hard as he fell, and a few minutes passed before he was alert. Thankfully, he ultimately left the cage under his own power. John Makdessi def. Kyle Watson via knockout (spinning back fist) – Round 3, 1:27
Judges: Claude Paquette (20-18 through two rounds for Makdessi), Sal D’Amato (20-18) and Doug Crosby (20-18)
JASON MACDONALD VS. RYAN JENSEN
Round 1 – MacDonald, the Canadian, is met with a huge ovation in his first fight since a nasty leg injury. A touch of gloves gets us started. Jensen swings, MacDonald dips, and he instantly looks for the takedown. MacDonald puts him against the cage, and Jensen slaps on a guillotine choke as he falls to his back. It’s tight, but MacDonald eventually pops free. MacDonald then takes his opponent’s back but only has one hook in. Jensen tries to fight it off and then stands over and takes top position while sliding off. MacDonald then quickly slaps on a triangle choke. It looks tight, but Jensen tries to punch his way out. But he’s quickly forced to tap just seconds later. Jason MacDonald def. Ryan Jensen via submission (triangle choke) – Round 1, 1:37
Judges: Claude Paquette, Sal D’Amato and Doug Crosby
IVAN MENJIVAR VS. CHARLIE VALENCIA
Round 1 – Valencia fires first with a low kick that misses. Menjivar answers with a body kick that partially connects. Valencia returns a body kick of his own. They reset. Menjivar lands a nice straight right. Valencia moves forward with a kick. The fighters clinch and jockey for position with Menjivar the aggressor. He lands a nice elbow strike and then another drops Valencia from the clinch. Menjivar hits the mat and pours on the punches. Valencia covers up, and the fight is mercifully stopped. Valencia’s nose was shattered. Ivan Menjivar def. Charlie Valencia via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 1:30
Judges: Richard Bertrand, Nelson Hamilton and Pasquale Procipio
CLAUDE PATRICK VS. DANIEL ROBERTS
Round 1 – Roberts instantly charges with punches, but Patrick puts him on his back. Roberts is comfortable here, but Patrick moves to half guard. Roberts hunts for a kimura from below, but Patrick defends and muscles his way out of it with leverage. Roberts uses the hold to get back to his feet and reset standing. The fighters circle, and Patrick pops him with a right. Patrick lands another right and then a solid low kick. He then clinches and puts Roberts against the cage. Roberts reverses and works short punches to the body. Patrick looks to stay upright and reverses the position. Robers, though, keep them circling in the clinch. Patrick lands some solid knees to the legs before they separate and reset. Roberts misses with a superman punch, and Patrick catches him with a straight left, clinches, and then tosses Roberts to the mat. Roberts lands on his side, and Patrick briefly attempts an arm-triangle choke. Roberts look for high guard and gets to his feet, but Patrick pops him with a dozen quick lunging punches before Roberts covers up and gets to the end of the round. MMAjunkie.com scores it 10-9 for Patrick.
Round 2 – Patrick comes out in stalking mode and walks down his opponent. Roberts backs him up with a low kick, but Patrick throws his own. Roberts forces him to the mat and finally has top position. Patrick quickly passes and gets back to his feet. Roberts clinches and pins him against the cage while looking for wrist control. Patrick tries to circle free and does and tags him with a knee in the process. The crowd voices its approval. Roberts misses with a superman punch but lands a solid body kick. Patrick answers with a leg kick. Patrick shoots for a double leg, elevates his opponent and gets the eventual drag takedown. Roberts quickly sweeps and takes side control from the top. Patrick’s head is trapped against the cage before he rolls a bit. Patrick secures one leg for half guard, and the pace slows as Roberts works short punches. Patrick then pulls him into full guard, puts his back against the cage and gets to his feet. But Roberts take his back and drags him back to the mat. Patrick, though, is back up and working for his own takedown. The stand and trade punches, and Patrick works a low kicks while Roberts misses with sloppy and slow jabs. Despite his fatigue, MMAjunkie.com scores it 10-9 for the ground control and takedowns. It’s close, though.
Round 3 – The fighters are both a step slower but circling and pawing jabs. Roberts snaps off a solid body kick. He tries another but is clearly exhausted. Patrick bobs and weaves, catches a kick, but his opponent against the cage, delivers a punch and then scores the trip takedown. He’s in half guard and then easily moves into mount. They’re against the cage, and Roberts gets his legs free and works butterfly guard. Patrick then gets back to his feet and checks a knee on the way up. They reset and throw lazy punches. Roberts shoots and looks for the takedown, but Patrick’s sprawl is enough to halt it. Patrick then looks for a guillotine, though Roberts easily avoids it. Patrick presses him against the cage. Roberts reverses. The action stalls, and the ref calls for a restart. The fighters trade punches, but neither has much behind them. Roberts shoots for a single leg, and they hit the mat, but Patrick grabs a guillotine in the process. He can’t secure it and ends up on his back, but the round ends seconds later. MMAjunkie.com scores it 10-9 for Patrick and 29-28 overall. Claude Patrick def. Daniel Roberts via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
JAKE ELLENBERGER VS. SEAN PIERSON
Round 1 – An early pick for “Fight of the Night” honors gets underway with a touch of the gloves. Ellenberger swings first and misses with a lunging right and then low kick. Ellenberger can’t connect on a front kick. Pierson patiently circles. The fighters collide on low kicks. Ellenberger avoids a fake shoot and throws a nice and quick overhand punch that connects. He follows it with a low kick and then shoots for the double leg and gets it. Pierson quickly is back on his feet, though. Ellenberger throws a right-left that just misses. Pierson closes the distance but is countered with a nice left. Great head movement from Ellenberger. Ellenberger lands a left, and Pierson is out on his feet and falls like a tree to the mat. He’s tagged with a right on the way down. Jake Ellenberger def. Sean Pierson via KO (punch) – Round 1, 2:22
NATE DIAZ VS. RORY MACDONALD
Round 1 – Both fighters in a low stance and pawing their jab. MacDonald misses with a couple high kicks. Diaz starts to taunt and immediately gets tagged with some low kicks. Diaz continues to paw and takes low kicks. MacDonald avoids his lunging punches and circles. MacDonald throws a front kick. Diaz catches a head kick but eats a quick follow-up punch before clinching against the cage. Diaz lands a couple nice shots and clinches again. Diaz throws some shoulder strikes from the clinch before getting the action to the mat. They’re quickly back up, though. MacDonald goes high with a kick again. It doesn’t land, but the following superman punch does. MacDonald lands a low kick and then a body kick as Diaz looks to time him. MacDonald fires off another body kick. Diaz starts to taunt, and the crowd lets him hear it. MacDonald throws another body kick, Diaz checks it, and they clinch. MacDonald puts him against the cage as the jockey for position. They then trade knees while still clinched, and MacDonald breaks away. Diaz lands some lunging punches and then shoots for a single leg. MacDonald remains upright and uses the cage for leverage. Diaz remains on him tightly, but they break away and reset. MacDonald looks for low kicks, but the round ends. MMAjunkie.com scores it 10-9 for MacDonald.
Round 2 – MacDonald lands a superman punch but is counters. They clinch, and MacDonald puts him against the cage. MacDonald creates distance and resets. “F*$# you, Diaz!” chants begin. Diaz becomes the aggressor with body shots and shoots. MacDonald sprawls, and Diaz presses him into the fencing while looking for the trip takedown. MacDonald, though, gets the leverage and puts Diaz on his back and fires punches before he’s back up. They clinch in the center of the cage, and MacDonald gets the takedown. Diaz looks to control wrists before standing and popping Diaz with a right as he gets back up. The clinch again in the center and MacDonald breaks with a nice shot. Diaz stalks and lands a nice overhand right before pressing his opponent into the fence. MacDonald ducks under a punch and shoots. Diaz reverses the position and puts the Canadian against the cage while looking for knees to the legs. Diaz scores trip takedown, but MacDonald quickly hops back up. MacDonald lands a nice left-jab/low-kick combo. Diaz comes in swinging wide, but MacDonald’s quicker to the punch. They clinch again, and Diaz looks for the takedown before resetting. MacDonald moves in with a flying knee that misses. MacDonald grabs a single leg but gives it up. MMAjunkie.com scores it 10-9 for MacDonald.
Round 3 – Both paw their jabs early. MacDonald throws a body kick that’s mostly blocked. Diaz looks a front kick and lunging punch, but MacDonald is just quicker to the draw. They clinch against the cage, and MacDonald pins Diaz into the fencing before dragging him to the mat. Diaz eats a knee on the way back up, and then MacDonald picks him and sends him airborne with a takedown and then another with big height. The crowd loves it and begins stomping their feet. MacDonald looks to deliver punches from the top and then stands over his opponent. Diaz tries to grab a leg, but MacDonald pops him with punches before following him to the mat. Diaz is back up, but he’s tossed down like a ragdoll once again. Diaz is back up, undeterred, and pins MacDonald into the cage while wrapping the hips. MacDonald reverses, and they jockey for position before resetting. Diaz shoots for a single leg, and MacDonald collapses on top of him. Diaz is back up, grabs a leg and looks for the trip. MacDonald fights it off and then scores a quick takedown of his own. Diaz works butterfly guard, and MacDonald eventually stands to drop short punches. They then become harder and draw blood. MacDonald mixes in more punches, avoids an upkick, and then stifles Diaz’s attempt to get back up. Diaz is up before the round ends, but this fight is all MacDonald. MMAjunkie.com scores it 10-9 for MacDonald in a 30-27 sweep. Rory MacDonald def. Nate Diaz via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-26)
MARK BOCEK VS. BEN HENDERSON
Round 1 – Bocek lands an early right that sets up a clinch. He pushes his opponent against the cage, but Henderson reverses the cage position. Both jockey for position, and Henderson gets the undercuts. Bocek tries to get off the cage, but Henderson muscles him back. The ref calls for a restart after a lull in action. The fighters trade low kicks, and Bocek follows with a nice straight right that allows him to clinch. Henderson turns him around and then lands a nice overhand left-forearm strike. He follows with a low kick. Bocek tries a right, but Henderson checks it. Bocek looks for a low kick but eats a few punches. Henderson lands a nice superman punch set up by a low kick. Henderson snaps of a left that halts an advance. Bocek lands a nice right to the body and then counters with another right. Bocek looks for a takedown and eats some heavy punches thanks to his nice balance. Bocek, though, ultimately kicks his leg out from under him and takes it to the mat. Henderson sits with his back against the cage. Henderson nearly gets back up before Bocek pulls him back down. There’s little action as Bocek looks to pull from away from the cage. The fighters trade some short punches before the round ends. It’s close, but MMAjunkie.com scores it 10-9 for Henderson.
Round 2 – Henderson goes high with a kick that’s checked. The fighters paw jabs. Henderson moves forward with punches, but Bocek ducks under it and looks for the takedown. With his back against the cage, Henderson fights off the double-leg attempt. Bocek, though, elevates him and gets the takedown. Henderson quickly is back up, and he pushes Bocek into the cage. Bocek looks for short punches, but Henderson remains tight. The ref calls for a restart. Henderson lands a nice combo that ends with a low kick. Bocek tries for a single leg and ends up on his knees eating punches. He tries to drive forward, but Henderson puts him on his back. Henderson kneels and delivers solid strikes as Bocek tries to wrap up a leg. Bocek’s uses his leg lock to trip Henderson and get back to his feet. Henderson presses him into the cage again and delivers knees to the legs. Bocek reverses, and they go to their knees looking for leverage. Bocek slaps on a guillotine, but it’s not terribly tight. He rolls and gets some leverage. Henderson now is in top and appears out of trouble. Bocek gets to his feet and keeps working for the choke. It’s tighter now, and Bocek pulls guard. Henderson escapes gets to his feet, unloads a vicious barrage of elbows and then pops a bloodied Bocek with a knee. MMAjunkie.com scores it 10-9 for Henderson.
Round 3 – Henderson tries to pump up the crowd, but they boo him for his effort. Henderson throws leg kicks, but Bocek shoots and scores the double-leg takedown. Henderson grabs a guillotine as he hits his back, but he’s forced to let it go. Henderson works elbows from below and goes high with his guard. Bocek throws short hammerfists, but Henderson keeps him clsoe from the top. Henderson then postures up and rains down some heavy blows before returning to the kneeling position for more punches ot the body and head. Bocek grabs a leg lock to knock Henderson over, takes his back and clings to Henderson as he gets to his feet. Bocek tries a standing rear-naked choke but slips off, and Henderson pushes him into the cage. Bocek tries to power his way to a takedown from the clinch but eats a knee. Henderson wraps the hips and then focuses on a single leg before getting the drag takedown. He delivers punches and then postures up. Bocek shoots up and grabs a single leg and clings closely to his opponent. Henderson sprawls on top of him. Bocek is back up and they clinch against the cage before resetting. Both fighters are tiring. Bocek wraps the hips and gets the takedown and moves into half guard from the top. Henderson waits him out and then gets to his knees. Bocek looks for the guillotine, but the round comes to an end as Henderson gets back to his feet. MMAjunkie.com scores it 10-9 for Henderson for a 30-27 sweep. Ben Henderson def. Mark Bocek via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Judges: Claude Paquette (30-27), Sal D’Almato (30-27) and Doug Crosby (30-27)
JASON BRILZ VS. VLADIMIR MATYUSHENKO
Round 1 – Matyushenko moves in with a solid combo and resets and lands another with a stiff uppercut that drops his opponent. Matyushenko unloads a quick barrage of hammerfists, and this predicted humpfest just concluded in shocking fashion. Vladimir Matyushenko def. Jason Brilz via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 0:20
RANDY COUTURE VS. LYOTO MACHIDA
Round 1 – Couture circles on the outside. Machida does the same. Couture moves in and sidesteps Machida’s first punch. Machida paws a jab as the crowd is electric. Couture moves in and eats a punch before resetting. Machida throws out the right over and over to keep Couture at bay. Couture answers. Couture keeps pawing as Couture deflects them. Machida misses on an uppercut, but he’s too quick to counter. Couture closes the distance, only partially blocks a swarm of punches and fails to clinch. He stalks as Machida circles the perimeter. Machida moves in with a quick right punch. Couture just misses with a counter right. Machida tries a low-kick/jab combo that misses. Couture charges in, but Machida sidesteps away. Machida lands a solid piunch, but Couture clinches. Machida gets away and tags him in the process. Couture still pressing the action, but he’s not really connecting. Couture shoots for a single leg, can’t get it, but puts Machida against the cage. He grabs a single leg again, but Machida gets away and then pops him with a body kick. Couture moves in and eats a knee to the chest. It’s a strategic first round that Machida wins, 10-9.
Round 2 – Couture circles the outside and looks for an opening. Machida unloads a combo, and Couture goes to a knee as a defensive tactic. He’s back up, but Machida is growing more confident with quick hands and footwork. Machida unloads a vicious stutter-step front kick, and Couture is out on his feet. He crashes to the mat, and this fight is over. Lyoto Machida def. Randy Couture via knockout (kick) – Round 2, 1:09
CHAMP JOSE ALDO VS. MARK HOMINICK (FOR FEATHERWEIGHT TITLE)
Round 1 – A touch of gloves gets us started. Both fighters light on their feet. Aldo moves in with an uppercut to the body. He moves in with another and lands a jarring leg kick. Hominick shakes it off. Aldo with a quick jab and then another. Hominick moves in with a nice body shot, but Aldo counters with an overhand and then a left to the head. Hominick catches a front kick and briefly spills the champ. The fighters trade lugning punches that are checked. Hominick gets through a straight right. Aldo with another body-punch, low-kick combo before Aldo shoots and easily gets the double-leg takedown. Hominick looks for an armbar, but Aldo shakes it off and works from full guard. Hominick controls his wrists while presses into the cage. Aldo gets through a few punches and then elbows. Hominick looks to get away from the cage. Aldo postuews up and then drops back into guard. Aldo drops a forearm strike and another. Hominick tries to tie him up but eats another. Aldo then connects on a big right. Hominick again tries to tie him up, and he stalls the action to get a standup. Hominick lands a nice combo, but Aldo easily scores a single-leg takedown. MMAjunkie.com scores it 10-9 for Aldo as Hominick walks to his corner with some big knots on his head.
Round 2 – Aldo lands a low kick and then retreats to avoid counters. Hominick stays light on his feet and gets through a body punch. They trade quick rights, and Aldo just misses on a big uppercut. Both showing good footwork. Aldo moves in, but Hominick shoves him away and tags him. Hominick shrugs off another takedown attempt and lands some solid punches while Aldo is flatfooted. Hominick pops him again while the champ stays flatfooted. Aldo ducks under the next one and gets the double-leg takedown. Aldo works from inside full guard, but Hominick does a good job tying him up. Hominick again grabs the cage to get away from the fencing with no warning. Aldo postures up and moves back in with a couple punches. The crowd wants a stand-up, and “Big” John McCarthy obliges. Hominick ducks under an overhand right. Aldo fires off a quick combo, gets another takedown, and immediately moves into side control. Hominick puts his feet against the cage and wants to kick free. But Aldo smothers him. MMAjunkie.com scores another one 10-9 for Aldo.
Round 3 – The fighters miss with jabs. Aldo lands a straight punch. Hominick lands a low kick, and Aldo answers in kind. Aldo’s head movement allows him to avoid punches, but Hominick gets throw a low kick. Aldo throws an uppercut and looks for the takedown, but Hominick fights it off and resets. Hominick throws out the jab, but Aldo bobs his head expertly and lands a solid low kick. Aldo fires off a left-right combo and then gets through another right. Hominick answers with a quick jab. The fighters trade hooks. Aldo looks for the double-leg, knocks down his opponent, tries to get him back down with a single leg, but ultimately gives it up. Hominick has some success with punches and avoids counter punches. Aldo connects on a quick right, and Hominick appears stunned. Aldo drags him to the mat and unloads some ground and pound. Hominick eventually ties him up but now appears to have a few facial cuts. The pace slows. Not much action in the final 30 seconds. MMAjunkie.com scores it 10-9 for Aldo.
Round 4 – A nice ovation from the crowd starts our championship rounds. The fighters throw from distance with little luck. Aldo lands a nice low kick. Aldo then lands a nice left-right combo that snaps back Hominick’s head. Aldo lands another low kick and clinches, but Hominick pushes him away. Aldo lands a straight left. Hominick paws his jab but is quickly forced to retreat and reset. Hominick lands a front-kick to the cup, and the ref calls for a timeout. On the restart, Aldo lands a pair of nice low kicks and checks his opponent’s kicks. He then lands a quick left. Aldo then lands a body-punch, low-kick combo. Hominick peppers some jabs but is dropped with a counter. He’s forced to cover up but pulls guard and survives. Aldo delivers punches from the top and then lands some vicious elbow strikes. Hominick’s head is swelling up badly. A nasty hemotoma could mean this fight will be stopped between rounds. Aldo continues working from the top. Each replay of the swelling causes gasps from the crowd. The ref calls for a timeout to have it checked. A hands-on physician pokes and probes the blob and amazingly allows the fight to continue. They start standing. Aldo lands a combo on the second head and then snaps Hominick’s head with a straight punch. He easily gets the takedown and closes out a dominant round on top. MMAjunkie.com scores it 10-8 for Aldo.
Round 5 – Before the round begins, the physician checks Hominick again. Amazingly again, it’s allowed to continue. Aldo snaps off a low kick. Aldo lands a stiff combo and begins to let his hands fly. A right hand slows Hominick, who somehow gets the takedown to shows signs of life. He works from half guard and delivers some minimal ground and pound. Hominick’s face is swollen and bloody mess, but he begins to land punches from the top. The crowd roars and stomps their feet to create a rumble. Aldo throws up his legs, but Hominick keeps on the pressure between heavy breaths. Hominick postures up and delivers more punches. Aldo covers up, and despite the crowd’s enthusiasm, doesn’t seem to be in serious trouble. Hominick lands some bigger punches and then hammerfists. He looks at the clock and kicks up the frequency with a minute to go. Hominick works in punches and elbows to the head and body. Aldo definitely is slowing. Hominick pops him with a left. Hominick fires away on the body from the kneeling position. Aldo looks for the clock. Hominick lands a left, looks at the clock, and desperately flings away, but it’s too little too late. MMAjunkie.com scores it 10-9 for Hominick but 49-45 overall for Aldo. Champ Jose Aldo def. Mark Hominick via unanimous decision (50-43, 48-46, 49-46) – defends featherweight title
CHAMP GEORGES ST-PIERRE VS. JAKE SHIELDS (FOR WELTERWEIGHT TITLE)
Round 1 – St-Pierre strikes first with a right. He then checks a body kick. The fighters circle. Shields grabs a single leg and pushes St-Pierre against the cage. St-Pierre frees a leg, remains in the clinch, reverses and then breaks away. Shields paws a jab. St-Pierre patiently circles then misses a spinning back kick. St-Pierre pops him with a jab. Shields looks for a low kick and eats a straight punch. Shields peppers shots and nearly gets popped with an overhand. Shields tries a sidekick that’s nearly caught. Shields tries a kick and it shoved away and knocked off balance. St-Pierre lands a superman punch. St-Pierre’s next body kick is caught, but Shields can’t get him to the mat. The fighters circle. St-Pierre gets through a straight right. A superman punch to the body connects for the champ. St-Pierre tries to clinch, but Shields avoids it and instead eats a right. MMAjunkie.com scores the first 10-9 for St-Pierre.
Round 2 -Shields throws a leg kick and is countered with a quick right. The fighter trade from distance with little landing. Not much major is landing as the fighters anticipate each other’s strikes. Shields’ body kick is checked. St-Pierre connects on a low kick. St-Pierre lands a nice overhand right. Shields blocks a second one. Shields throws a body kick but doesn’t have much behind it. St-Pierre tries again, but Shields blocks it. St-Pierre lands a spinning back kick to the gut. Shields works low kicks and avoids the overhands. St-Pierre gets through another spinning back kick, but Shields nearly catches it. Shields is trying kicks but knocking himself off balance. He shoots, but St-Pierre easily avoids it. St-Pierre peppers some jabs before the round ends. MMAjunkie.com scores it 10-9 for St-Pierre.
Round 3 – Shields moves in looking to clinch, but St-Pierre keeps him at bay with quick punches. St-Pierre lands a low kick. Shields land a body kick but nearly eats a big overhand right. Shields tries a low kick and eats a big overhand right. He clinches and looks for the takedown, but no dice. Shields clinches, but St-Pierre again easily frees himself. Not much action. Shields shoots, and he comes up way short. St-Pierre snaps off a nice low kick and misses on the right. Shields throws more body kicks and just avoids heavy counters. St-Pierre lands a nice leg kick. Shields goes with a kick, and St-Pierre nearly catches it. St-Pierre throws a spinning back fist that misses and then retreats. St-Pierre works a counter jab and then gets a takedown when closing the distance. He lands in half guard, where he waits out the round. MMAjunkie.com scores it 10-9 for St-Pierre.
Round 4 – We enter the championship rounds. Shields comes out swinging, but St-Pierre seems hardly affected. St-Pierre charges forward and puts Shields on his back but resets standing. St-Pierre lands a straight left. The fighters trade jabs in what’s becoming a fairly lackluster bout. The crowd is growing restless. Shields clinches, but he can’t corral him. Shields moves in and is countered again. Shields throws a jab and is popped with a left head kick. He stumbles to the mat, but St-Pierre isn’t following. Shields is up and grabs a leg, but he’s forced to give it up. St-Pierre answers with jabs. Shields waves him in out of frustration. The action picks up, but mo one is landing anything major. St-Pierre misses on a spinning back kick. Shields works the jab. There’s some shot-for-shot training, but the offense is sparse. St-Pierre lands a couple jabs to close out another round he wins 10-9.
Round 5 – The crowd tries to amp up the fighters. Shields begins to stalk and tries to close the distance. St-Pierre makes him pay with punches before resetting. The fighters trade the occasional shot. St-Pierre moves in, and Shields again tries to clinch to no avail. St-Pierre again tries the overhand right, but Shields seems to have figured it out. The fighters trade straight punches. Shields gets through some jabs but eats a quick straight punch. The fighters work jabs as we hit the homestretch. The occasional shot lands, but neither is going for the finish. The crowd is becoming restless but tries to use some applause to will some action. St-Pierre works the jab and Shields kicks. St-Pierre shoots for one last takedown but doesn’t get it. MMAjunkie.com scores it 10-9 for St-Pierre and 50-45 overall for the champ. Champ Georges St-Pierre def. Jake Shields via unanimous decision (50-45, 48-47, 48-47) – defends welterweight title
Credit – MMAJunkie
Full weigh-in results included:
MAIN CARD (PPV)
PRELIMINARY CARD (Spike TV)
PRELIMINARY CARD (Facebook)
* – Initially weighed 156.5 pounds but made the needed 156 on his second attempt.
Credit – MMAFrenzy
Date: April 30, 2011
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Venue: Rogers Centre
Broadcast: Pay-per-view
MAIN CARD
PRELIMINARY CARD (Spike TV)
PRELIMINARY CARD (Airing Live on the Official UFC Facebook)
The Prelims:
Pierson vs. Ellenberger - I have to be honest. I’m super conflicted about this one. I know, it’s just a prelim. I should relax. I just know that what makes me most excited to watch this fight, makes me equally “not excited” to predict a winner. These two guys are very evenly matched. I love Ellenberger because he always leaves it all in the cage. He’s coming off a 3 fight win streak over some fairly impressive opponents. That being said, Pierson is coming off a 6 fight win streak. For anyone who looks on paper and is unimpressed by the fact that he had to go to decision with Matt Riddle: You need to watch that fight before you make any judgments. The majority of fighters would have quit, when Riddle did not. I’m not trying to make this an “I love Matt Riddle” shrine-post, but it was CRAZY that he stood in there and took the punishment that Pierson doled out. Anyway, as far as this fight goes, there are several key factors. Pierson has the obvious home court advantage, which can be a positive or a negative, depending on how he responds to pressure. I think if this thing stays standing, Pierson gets the edge. If it goes to the mat, I think Ellenberger wins. I’m giving the slight edge to Ellenberger and will say he gets it by decision.
Nate Diaz vs. Rory MacDonald – Before he ran into Carlos Condit in June, MacDonald had rattled off 10 wins in a row. He likes to push the pace, and has a solid ground game. You could make both of the aforementioned qualifying statements about Diaz. However, within the past 2 years, Nate has fought 3 fighters of similar ilk (aggressive fighters who are always coming forward and shooting takedown attempts) in Joe Stevenson, Clay Guida and Gray Maynard. The results? All 3 were losses. It’s important to note that all 3 of those bouts were at 155 lbs., and this current matchup will be at 170 lbs., where Diaz says he feels more comfortable. I don’t feel great about ever picking against Diaz brothers. They are unorthodox, unpredictable, and really good at finding ways to pull victory out of the jaws of defeat. Great feeling or not, I’m doing it. I’m going with MacDonald, also by decision.
The Main Card:
Bocek vs. Henderson - I want to be able to pick Bocek. I think he’s a good dude. His triangle choke-out of Hazelett was awesome. I just don’t think he can keep up with Bendo’s pace (I’ve never called him that before. I’m trying it out. Not sure how I feel about it yet. I’ll keep you posted). I think Henderson is far too athletic. I don’t think Bocek can take him down, and I think Henderson stand-up is far better. I have Henderson winning this one via stoppage in the 2nd or 3rd round.
Matyushenko vs. Brilz - Jason Brilz is a guy who does not get nearly the amount of love he deserves. He is underrated, and under the radar. Since 2002, he has lost only 2 fights. Both losses were via decision, and both decisions were sketchy (in my opinion). Go back and watch the Brilz-Nogueira fight. If you can’t say Brilz won that fight, there’s something wrong with you. Matyushenko is one of those tough guys that just ‘hangs around’. If you give him an opening, you can believe he will put you to sleep. He’s got that kind of one-punch knockout power. If Brilz is smart, he will stay away from a stand-up exchange and try and get the fight to the floor. I’m picking Brilz to win by decision.
Couture vs. Machida – I need to go on record as saying that I’m a huge Randy Couture fan. I also need to admit that I’ve never been much of a Machida fan. I don’t enjoy his style, and I believe he did all but refuse to fight Rampage and Rua (during their first fight). Couture will not let him dance around. He will cut off the ring. Machida is a fantastic counter-striker. It’s not ridiculous to think he could catch Randy coming in for a takedown attempt. I just don’t see it happening. I’m going to take ‘The Natural’ at his word and believe this really is his last fight (even though Dana White doesn’t believe him). That being the case, there’s no way I’m going to pick against Randy Couture to lose his last fight. No way. Couture by decision.
Aldo vs. Hominick – It makes me sad to know that a lot of fight fans are only casually aware of Jose Aldo Jr., and that they haven’t seen him fight yet. It makes me happy to know both things will change on Saturday night. If you haven’t seen him, Aldo is like watching a 145 pound version of Anderson Silva. He’s very possibly the fastest fighter in all of MMA. Hominick believes his stand-up will be the best Aldo has ever seen. He may be right. However, it makes me instantly recall when people said the same about Aldo’s fight with Mike Brown (WEC). How’d that work out for Brown? Look, I’m not disrespecting Hominick. He’s very good. Aldo isn’t very good. He’s world class. He essentially humiliated Urijah Faber into another weight class. Aldo wins this. I’m going to go outside the box and say he wins by submission in the 2nd round.
St. Pierre vs. Shields – A few months ago, I would have said GSP wins this fight in an embarrassing fashion. Since that point, I’ve done my homework. I’ve watched older Shields fights. I’ve watched his training videos via the UFC hype machine. I have to say, this has become a tough one to call. I watch Shields in his preparation for this fight and I think he trains like a monster. He also trains with REALLY good guys. The problem is that GSP does everything Shields does in training, but a little better. It’s a microcosm of their qualities as fighters. GSP does most of what Shields does well….but he does it better. The subject of controversy is that of jiu jitsu. I don’t think anyone passionately believes that GSP’s jits game is better than Shields. The problem is that I feel like I’ve watched this movie before and know how it ends. Georges is smart. He doesn’t go out there and try to prove his critics wrong by fighting out of his comfort zone and doing stupid things. He will fight his fight, and he will do it well. I just can’t pick against GSP. Not in this fight. I’ve got St. Pierre winning by decision.
Hopefully this all works out better than my March Madness bracket. Let’s be honest. It pretty much has to.
Last night’s The Ultimate Fighter scored a 1.1 cable rating, the highest rating of the season.
Credit – MMAMania
A source from the camp of MMA fighter and former PRIDE open weight grand-prix winner, Mirko Filipovic (pictured above) was indeed contacted by a WWE representative in regards to a possible future contract with the professional wrestling organization.
Crocop has made it clear that he wants another fight before he retires from Mixed Martial Arts but we have learned that he has not said no to a possible deal with the WWE. The last time Crocop was ever in a professional wrestling environment was back in one of HUSTLE’s new years eve shows in Japan.
It was originally thought that Crocop would compete in a professional wrestling match for the organization, Inoki Genome Federation. His original opponent was going to be Montanha Da Silva, who has also competed in K-1, at “Genome 15″ but this match did indeed fall through. However, MMA fighters Josh Barnett and Bob Sapp will be appearing at the event.
Nothing has been signed with the WWE yet, but there are indeed talks and the talks didn’t manifest from Crocop’s side. It was the WWE that approached Crocop.
The exact quote,
We were approached by the WWE, but nothing is set right now. Mirko is considering it, but right now, having one last fight is the most important thing on his mind.
Recently, Roy Nelson was good enough to sit down with us and answer a few questions about his upcoming fight with Frank Mir at UFC 130, his desire for a rematch with Dos Santos, and his deceptive quickness. We’re appreciative to Roy for his time and candid insight.
Kevin Haggerty: Roy, first off, thanks so much for your time. I know you’re super busy training for your fight at UFC 130 and I appreciate you taking a few minutes to answer some questions. You’re one of those guys that the casual fight fan has maybe only recently heard about, but who has been around making an impact in the MMA world for a long time now. Why do you think it took as long as it did for you to really pick up steam in the mainstream?
Roy Nelson: As the fastest sport of MMA grows mainstream so does Roy Nelson and his fan base.
KH: There were a ton of back-and-forth rumors regarding who you were going to fight next, before it was finally confirmed that you would face Mir at UFC 130. Why did it take so long, and why was it so difficult to find the right match-up for you?
RN: This would definitely be a question for the UFC matchmaker Joe Silva. If it were up to me, I would be fighting for the belt. I can ask for fights all day, but it is ultimately up to the UFC. When Brock Lesnar called me out a few months back, I went on ESPN and happily accepted his challenge. I would love to fight Nogueira in his hometown Brazil. I would love a rematch with Dos Santos when he has the belt. I am a martial artists who truly wants to test myself. I will fight anyone.
KH: I’ve seen an interview with you where you talked about your relationship with Mir. I’ve also seen an interview with Mir where he discusses the same topic. In your interview, you seemed to say Mir was a casual acquaintance who just happened to go to school with your younger brother. After watching Frank interviewed, I came away with the feeling that he was more under the impression that you two are friends and that he didn’t really want to fight you, but he would if he had to. What is the truth under all that and why the disparity between his version and yours?
RN: In MMA we are all friends. Just like you are my friend Kevin. Have you ever had a Brazilian say: “Thank you my friend!” ?
KH: Ha. No. Not to me personally. So maybe you and Mir are friends. Maybe you’re not. Frank seems to be one of those guys who is either loved or hated by most fans (and even fellow fighters to an extent). He comes across as having a cocky persona. Do you think he is mis-portrayed or is that who he really is?
RN: Frank is a business man and the longest reigning Heavyweight, so he is doing something right. I learned a long time ago that in this business, everybody loves a winner. But as long as fans love you or hate you, then you are relevant. It’s when you fall somewhere in between that they aren’t talking about you anymore. If they love you, they will support you. If they hate you, they will still be there, in hopes that you don’t succeed.
KH: Frank Mir is renowned as being one of the best submission specialists in the Heavyweight division. You’re a Gracie BJJ Black Belt. I feel like your ground game gets massively overlooked. How confident are you that you can not only hold your own on the ground against Mir, but that you could actually finish him if the fight goes there?
RN: The best thing about mixed martial arts is that you have to be a complete mixed martial artist. This is why I prepare myself to be the best fighter and the most complete mixed martial artist for whoever I fight.
KH: Other than your upcoming fight, is there anything else you’ve got going on that you’d like to plug/promote?
RN: Follow me on twitter @RoyNelsonMMA. I would like to thank my sponsor Rebpublic be sure to check them out at Rebpublic.com
KH: Before I let you go, is there anything in particular you’d like to say/express to your fans?
KH: Thanks again for your time and good luck with your fight!
RN: Thank you!
Ex-WWE superstar Batista WON’T be crushing anyone’s face in an MMA ring anytime soon — because the human freak show says his deal with Strikeforce is officially kaput.
The 6’6″, 290-pounder was lumbering through LAX this weekend when he explained that his deal fell through the cracks when the UFC bought out Strikeforce before they could schedule his first fight.
Batista told our guy he’s “real disappointed” with the way things turned out … adding, “I really had my heart set on Strikeforce.”
