Dominick Cruz, the very first bantamweight champion in UFC history, will defend his title for the second time inside the Octagon tomorrow night (Oct. 1, 2011) at the Verizon Center in Washington D.C., against Demetrious Johnson at UFC on Versus 6. Will Cruz "dominate" once again? Or will the "Mouse" prove more "Mighty" after all?
UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz may tower over his opponent this Sat., Oct. 1, 2011 in Washington D.C. at UFC on Versus 6, but Demetrious Johnson is as scrappy as they come.
Both main event competitors made their 135-pound title fight official for tomorrow night at the Verizon Center by hitting their respective weights without incident.
The co-main event of the evening features, for all intents and purposes, a giant and a dwarf when Stefan Struve takes on Pat Barry. "HD," who is giving up an entire foot in height, found a comical way to stare "The Skyscraper" straight in his face.
That staredown is after the jump. And for complete UFC on Versus 6 weigh-in results click here.
Looks like a thinning UFC welterweight division is putting on a few pounds.
170 to be exact, as Golden Glory welterweight Siyar Bahadurzada today (Sept. 30, 2011) announced his addition to the world's largest fight promotion via his official Twitter account:
I wanna thank the @UFC and @danawhite for this opportunity. I will shake up the ww division!!! Also special thanks to my team Golden Glory!
The signing was worth it just to hear Bruce Buffer try to nail this in one take.
Bahadurzada (20-4) recently ran roughshod over the competition in the Ultimate Glory Welterweight Tournament, capturing the crown and knocking out all three of his opponents in the process.
Aside from terrorizing the ranks on the International scene, the Afghan native is the current Shooto 183-pound champion and hasn't lost since Jorge Santiago heel-hooked him back in 2008.
An exciting addition to the UFC roster ... but who do you, as a fan, want to see him fight first?
Fantasy matchmakers, let's hear what you've got.
The CBC reports that UFC stars Mark Hominick and Yves Jabouin lobbied Parliament requesting a change in the Criminal Code in Ottawa. While Canadian MMA fans are some of the most dedicated to the sport, only 6 of the 10 provinces sanction the sport due to uncertainty with federal law.
The article focuses on the lobbying efforts of the UFC and while no one could deny that UFC 129’s mainstream exposure and monetary success is a definite factor for the push to change the code, the UFC stressed the “safety and cross-country consistency” as reasons for amendment to the law.
Via CBCSports.ca:
Current federal law says anyone who engages in or aids, abets, umpires or reports on a prize fight “is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.”
The only exception to the “prize fight” definition in the law are provincially sanctioned events in which “the contestants wear boxing gloves of not less than one hundred and forty grams each in mass.”
Judging from Thursday’s reception, there appears to be all-party support for changes to the federal law, so the event was less about lobbying legislators than it was about swinging a skeptical public over to the merits of the latest “sweet science.”
Canadians Hominick and Jabouin, were part lobbyists and part celebrities as they posed with locals as they fielded questions about their sport.
Payout Perspective:
While the UFC stresses the safety regulations as the reasons for the change in the laws, its obvious that the economic impact is an overwhelming reason why Canadian provinces should warm to MMA regulation. Realistically, reading the article it appears that the code is in need of an update as the legislation likely occurred in a time when MMA did not exist. Certainly the economic success of UFC 129 in Toronto has helped sway people on the fence about allowing the sport in its province. Still, having its fighters come out and answer questions about its sport help educate those skeptical about it is a good piece to the road to opening MMA to all of Canada.
*Apologies to Canadians as I originally mistook Ottawa as a province and not the capital of Canada. I have corrected the report.
With anything in life, the time comes when you are not able to perform at the high levels you once did.
We all get older, one step slower, reaction time is not as fast as it used to be. It's the reality of life. Michael Jordan and Muhammad Ali are two of greatest legends in their respective sports, basketball and boxing, but have fallen victim to that reality. They were at the top of their careers and are arguably recognized as the greatest to ever participate in their sport.
However, they didn’t end their careers on winning notes.
Michael Jordan ended his legendary career as a lowly Washington Wizard after we saw him win six NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls. Muhammad Ali ended his stellar career with two consecutive losses after destroying everyone in his path.
Then we have Matt Hughes, the former UFC welterweight champion and UFC Hall of Famer with 54 fights under his belt and a "who’s-who" list of opponents (and victories). Hughes dominated his division and at one time seemed unstoppable. However, Hughes has now suffered two consecutive knockout losses to B.J. Penn and Josh Koscheck and is seemingly in the twilight of his career.
Like Jordan and Ali, Hughes may not get the chance to end his career on a winning note, but what will you most remember him for?
What will define his legacy?
Hughes began his dominance as welterweight champion at UFC 34 when he viciously knocked out Carlos Newton with a powerful slam that is a regular in the UFC highlight reels. He defended his belt five times until he ran into the "Prodigy," B.J. Penn. Penn’s Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) proved too much for Hughes as he submitted Matt with a rear naked choke and ended his run as champ.
Fast forward two fights later, and Hughes was once again UFC welterweight champion when he submitted a young Canadian by the name of Georges St. Pierre. Hughes went on to again defend the title two more times and in the process took part in a rare UFC superfight against none other than fellow UFC Hall of Famer, Royce Gracie.
Hughes dominated the legend from the beginning of the bell and eventually unleashed a barrage of powerful strikes that forced the ref to step in and save Gracie. Hughes eventually would lose his title when he once again stepped into the Octagon to face George St. Pierre.
This time, all respect and worship from GSP was gone.
George St. Pierre willingly admitted that he had too much respect for Hughes in their first encounter, which led to his tentativeness. This fight proved to be a whole different story as the Canadian knocked him out to become the UFC welterweight champion.
Since that fight, Hughes compiled an even record of 4-4 with two consecutive knockout losses. With his unwillingness to say the word "retire," Hughes proclaimed he is simply on the shelf until the UFC decides they need him.
13 years and 54 fights in the game, Hughes has indeed had an illustrious career.
His resume speaks for itself: Two-time UFC welterweight champion, UFC Hall of Famer, most wins in the UFC (18). Georges St. Pierre, B.J. Penn, Royce Gracie, Carlos Newton, Hayato Sakurai, Matt Serra, Frank Trigg …. Hughes has fought and defeated the best of the best, not when they were at their tale end of their careers, but when they were in their prime (with the exception of Gracie).
From powerful knockout slams, to tremendous wrestling, to freakish strength and underrated striking, Hughes epitomized the "American Fighter" role and he put it all together very nicely. Hughes is without a doubt one of the most decorated champions in UFC history. His "I’m better than you" attitude didn’t win him any friends (just ask Matt Serra), but the born again Christian doesn’t really care if you like him or not.
He did, however, make sure that at the end of the day, win, lose or draw, you did respect him.
Cain Velasquez, Anderson Silva, George St. Pierre ... those are the new stars and champions of today. They are the lucky ones in the sense that they are champions and stars in a time when MMA has reached new mainstream heights that were not even thought possible in Matt Hughes’ era.
Hughes dominated the UFC in a time when it was still fighting for its life. Bud Light and Harley Davidson were not knocking on the door to get a piece of the pie, if anything, Hughes and the UFC were fighting to prove that MMA was a legit sport and trying to convince the higher-ups like Senator John McCain that MMA was not "human cock-fighting."
It may be unfair that such a pioneer will not be able to get the mainstream exposure and spotlight that the stars of today receive, but Matt Hughes can hold his head high and know that he has secured his legacy and no one can ever diminish or take that away from him. However, the spotlight and fame is something that Hughes has never been too preoccupied with.
Hughes is a simple man, a good old country boy that prefers to work on his farm than attend a celebrity-filled awards show. Hughes has provided fans with so many memorable moments that his career will not be forgotten, and his legacy and career is truly one for the history books.
Now that leaves you, the MMA fan, to help decide which spectacular moment in his career will best define the Matt Hughes legacy, which was broken down fight-by-fight in this piece at MMA Nation:
UFC 22: Matt Hughes vs. Valeri Ignatov UFC 34: Matt Hughes vs Carlos Newton UFC 36: Matt Hughes vs Hayato "Mach" Sakurai UFC 38: Matt Hughes vs Carlos Newton 2 UFC 45: Matt Hughes vs Frank Trigg UFC 50: Matt Hughes vs Georges St. Pierre UFC 52: Matt Hughes vs Frank Trigg 2 UFC 60: Matt Hughes vs Royce Gracie UFC 63: Matt Hughes vs B.J. Penn 2 UFC 98: Matt Hughes vs Matt SerraVote in our poll and let's hear some feedback in the comments section below
Poll Which fight do you feel was Matt Hughes' "most spectacular fight of all time" and best defines his legacy? UFC 22: Matt Hughes vs. Valeri Ignatov UFC 34: Matt Hughes vs Carlos Newton UFC 36: Matt Hughes vs Hayato "Mach" Sakurai UFC 38: Matt Hughes vs Carlos Newton 2 UFC 45: Matt Hughes vs Frank Trigg UFC 50: Matt Hughes vs Georges St. Pierre UFC 52: Matt Hughes vs Frank Trigg 2 UFC 60: Matt Hughes vs Royce Gracie UFC 63: Matt Hughes vs BJ Penn 2 UFC 98: Matt Hughes vs Matt Serra516 votes | Results
Just one week out from a big event featuring two title fights, The Ultimate Fighting Championship will be holding a media conference call to build up next Saturday's (October 8, 2011) UFC 136: "Edgar vs. Maynard 3" event today, (September 30, 2011).
Scheduled to attend will be the six headlining fighters of the evening: Frankie Edgar, Gray Maynard, Jose Aldo, Kenny Florian, Brian Stann and Chael Sonnen. Yup, that Chael Sonnen.
Frankie Edgar is the current UFC lightweight champion, having twice defeated B.J. Penn in 2010 to win and defend the belt before earning a draw against Maynard earlier this year in one of 2011's most exciting fights.On the opposite side of the podium will be the challenger to his title, Gray Maynard, the only man to defeat Edgar and the man who was literally inches away from earning a first round knockout to take the title at UFC 125 before "The Answer" responded.
Brazilian Jose Aldo is the current UFC featherweight champion, having previously defended his title earlier this year at UFC 129 against Mark Hominick in a bout that won "Fight of the Night" honors.His challenger, veteran of The Ultimate Fighters season one, Kenny Florian, will be competing in his fourth weight class and will be fighting in his third overall title shot in his career. This is perhaps the last opportunity at UFC gold that he will ever get.
Brian Stann was a decorated soldier in the Middle East and has quickly become a contender since dropping down to the UFC's middleweight division after back-to-back knockouts of Chris Leben and Jorge Santiago. His opponent, Chael Sonnen, has made waves for his brash talking style, his insults of everything Anderson Silva and the fact that he was a minute away from the UFC middleweight title before succumbing to a triangle choke.
We'll have complete updates of the UFC 136 media conference call after the jump.
Brian Hemminger here. The conference call is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. ET.
2:10 p.m.: We're just getting started.
Kenny Florian: I was only able to see the first episide [of this season of The Ultimate Fighter], it looks like those guys are really bringing it.
Kenny Florian: There's a big difference between middleweight and featherweight for sure. You've got to find different training partners but other than that, it's not a major difference for me. I was never a middleweight, I was a chubby 178 pounder.
Gray Maynard: With the draw, that hurt a little bit. I'm pumped to have it again and I can't wait for the 8th.
Frankie Edgar: We met each other two other times before and I fought B.J. back to back, did two training camps for him so I've fought two guys the past two years so I'm used to it.
Frankie Edgar: It's pretty challenging, coming up with a new gameplan and a new series of attack. You have a lot of situations to base your training camp off of. The main thing is you've got to come up with new stuff.
Frankie Edgar: The finish is everyone's goal in the sport. It's always my goal.
Jose Aldo: That night was wonderful, It couldn't have been much better. I was defending the belt and the gameplan was great. Being in the UFC and defending my belt is just wonderful.
Jose Aldo: It was a natural transition for Kenny. If he feels it was the right time to drop to 145, I respect him. As long as he's well-prepared.
Kenny Florian: It is different. It's definitely different. I think every fight it's going to be different. You'll have a different mind-set based on your training camp and your opponent. I've learned from each training camp, wiin or lose. My goal is to make each training camp better and better each time and I think I've done that for every training camp. I feel I trained my ass off for this fight.
Kenny Florian: He's a very fast, explosive guy similar to B.J. but he's more of a kicker. He's dangerous on the ground and we're about the same in wrestling. He's a unique opponent and I'm preparing differently for him for sure.
Gray Maynard: I've come close to a lot of goals. I've had goals that I did accomplish. I'd feel really good to meet my goals but at the end of the day, it's on to the next one.
Gray Maynard: It was easy to get back. I love to train. I only took off about 3-4 weeks because of the scope on my elbow but the whole time I planned out the camp I would have and it was all good.
Frankie Edgar: I take some time off to take care of my back but I put in a full training camp before I had gotten hurt so I feel like I didn't miss a beat. When you're not on the mat and not grinding, you try to improve every way you can. I improved mentally and watching videos with my team.
Kenny Florian: I don't know if I'll be the stronger guy. I'm doing my best to build my strength and I'm confident in that.
Kenny Florian: I think that generally, he's never faced a guy who's as well-rounded and as experienced as I am and that's what I'm gonna bring in there. I'll have well-rounded skills and see if I can take advantage of mistakes.
Jose Aldo: I've definitely fought taller guys with more of a reach than Kenny. I can only hope to expose his game and have a good fight.
Jose Aldo: Since I started training back from my jiu-jitsu days, I've cut a lot of weight. I feel there might be a point where all that weight takes a toll on the body and hopefully when I reach that point I'm mature enough to do what I have to do and potentially move up in weight.
Jose Aldo: My weight cut processing is the same every time. Before that fight we worked a lot on gaining muscle mass and that's why I was heavier and took longer to get the weight off.
Jose Aldo: A lot has changed since UFC Rio. There's a lot more respect for the fighters. Soccer is always gonna be number one in Brazil but MMA is right up there as number two and it's grown a lot since UFC in Brazil.
Kenny Florian: Having been in Brazil and having been in Peru and Mexico many times, I'm very impressed with how the communities there have been responding to the sport. They love it and I think that goes with any country. It's a dynamic sport and you never know what's going to happen and it keeps people on the edge of their seats. It's a matter of educating the public. We love the sport and mixed martial arts really provides a lot of excitement and respect. We educate them on how we train and who we are and a lot of things.
Frankie Edgar: Respect will keep growing the more I do and the longer I keep this belt. I come into every one of my fights with a chip on my shoulder and it helps me to win.
Frankie Edgar: My goal in every fight is to be a better fighter each time out and I feel I did that for this fight.
We'll be back momentarily as they bring Chael Sonnen and Brian Stann onto the call.
Brian Stann: Training has gone very well. I'm down here in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I'm ready to compete. There has certainly been a greater amount of fan response and media response. I think a lot of it has to do with the match-up. When you fight the number two middleweight in the world, it generates a lot of heat. I think that's where a lot of the attention comes from.
Brian Stann: I told everybody from the start that I didn't think it was gonna happen. I said this a couple times that I believe Chael is very genuine that he said that if he has a problem with someone he'll speak it and if he doesn't, he won't. I wouldn't have taken it personally anyways. I think our skill-sets and the way that we fight generates all the hype we need.
Brian Stann: I take it as a fighter who's mentally preparing himself to win the world title. Even if I feel terrible, I say I feel great. If you constantly think and talk like a champion, you feel like a champion, you think like a champion and you go out there and perform like a champion.
Chael Sonnen: I feel pretty good. I get sick before every fight. I speak for Brian too, I think it's just a common thing where you wear down. I've got the weight cut and when you mess with your calorie and nutrients. I'm at that point now but that's kinda familiar. I'm a little run down and I'm gonna take 72 hours off and do nothing. I'm gonna be a prisoner, grab some magazines and try to recover.
Chael Sonnen: I don't look forward to a fight. I get jealous of guys that say they do. I'm not excited to go fight another man. I'm envious of guys that are excited for battle and competition. I'm happy to be part of it. I'm glad that the time out is over and behind me but I have a matter-of-fact approach to it.
Chael Sonnen: It's always hard to explain the emotion. There's something there. There's an emotion there that's strong. It's not fear or maybe it's a little bit of that. It's a whole lot of emotions combined into one. I've always been grateful for these opportunities but I think I'm a little more appreciative now.
Brian Stann: This is the first training camp I've had where I let go of my real estate job. I was vice president of a real estate company on top of being president of Hire Heroes USA. The Charity had grown so large and I couldn't manage our portfolio at the same time. A great friend came to work with me and be my executive director. His name is Nathan Smith and he's one of the most impressive men I've ever met. I can now focus on training all day and getting injuries worked on and focusing on recovery. The media has always been my opportunity to publicize and get the word out for the organization.
Chael Sonnen: I'd like to think that it hasn't. I'm in the public sector. Having battled where some that don't go your way and some you come out the hero that everyone is thanking. That's the life I've chosen. This is the first time I've had to teach lessons and they weren't lessons I wanted to teach, rather I'd have liked to learn them. That's just human nature. I knew what I was getting into when I ran for office. That goes with the territory. As a fighter, I don't like to be away from competition. It's a tremendous difference in training. I worked out every day but there's a big difference. You can practice, you can workout and you can train. Training is exponentially more difficult. You eat, sleep, and breath the event. If you don't have that deadline, you can't manufacture that mentally. Physically, you try to duplicate it but that doesn't happen. I'm showing up to practice with the same people and the same coaches but it's different. I've had to deal with that. It's not an ideal spot. You have to learn to deal with those things. Some people are out due to injury or illness. You miss time for different reasons but I'm in those shoes.
Chael Sonnen: I'll speak for everybody. Nobody wants to fight Brian. Our paths have to cross. We're in the same weight class and it's not that big of a pool. He keeps whipping everybody. If he wasn't beating everybody I wouldn't have to fight him. At the end of the day with everything going on the world, the fact that we have to compete for 15 minutes isn't that big of a deal.
Chael Sonnen: It's getting harder and harder to deny that he [Anderson Silva] shouldn't be shown that appreciation. He ducked Okami for years but he went out there and made it look easy. If you're ever thinking that I would conceive that he's better than me, I would refer you to the tape. I also thinks he ducks and dodges opponents constantly. His wins and losses speak for themselves and the fact of the matter whether I'd like to admit it or not is that he is the champion. It doesn't mean that I'm gonna quit poking my finger in his chest but at some point I think fairness needs to kick in.
Brian Stann: I think it was spring of 2010 where I had just gotten off fighting three times in 5 1/2 months. I went from Steve Cantwell to Rodney Wallace. I'd had a baby in that time and I finally had a break. I was able to devote my time to specific skill-sets to help my game. I was afforded the opportunity to round out my skill-sets. This last year has been great for me as far as growth.
Brian Stann: What happens in fighting is early in my career I had a very very limited skill-set and I was comfortable in that skill-set and was able to go 100 miles an hour. When I added everything to it, I was able to go 70 miles an hour because it was just overwhelming. Now I feel like I can go 100 again.
Brian Stann: Coming from Chael, who's career goes back to when I'm in high school, that means a lot to me. He wouldn't be a statesmen and the people who have met Chael know what kind of guy he is. He doesn't mince words. At the same time, it's one of those situations and the UFC does this sort of things. We don't get a lot of leeway. This is the first fight where I got a phone call and was told who I was fighting. After UFC 132, it was 48 hours later, I got the phonecall on who I was fighting. I don't take it as if Chael Sonnen is going light on me. I expect him to be the same guy who's going to try to push my head through the canvas.
Brian Stann: I worked wrestling obviously. I've been training in wrestling for a long time now but since Phil Davis, that's where I've spent most of my time over the last 3-4 fights and two years. That's the thing that I'm always working the most.
Chael Sonnen: I try to always watch the show. I like the show. I think it's ok. I think the show is about the athletes for me. I know from a promotional standpoint, they like to build the coaches too. It's so hard for some of those guys to get an opportunity to fight in the UFC and through that show you get to fight in front of Dana and the world. I've heard great things about the show and it looks good. The coaches don't act like coaches. I think that makes for good TV but it almost makes me want to crack my head sometime like, "are you coaching here or just acting like a fool and wearing a shirt that says 'coach.'" I like the show and there's some really great talent that came out of there. Scouting is very important too. When they're in our weight class, it's important to see who's next
Chael Sonnen: I think Bisping's the favorite and should be. Miller's been out a while and he has the skills to beat him. He's noticeably bigger and stronger now. Miller could do well now. I'll cheer for Miller but if Miller beats him, I think it's an upset.
UFC on Versus 6 will bring a championship title fight to the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., live and free of charge tomorrow night (Oct. 1, 2011) on the Versus network.
Headlining the promotion's march on the nation's capitol is the 135-pound bantamweight bash between reigning division champion Dominick Cruz and surging number one contender Demetrious Johnson.
Will "Mighty Mouse" save the day? Or is "The Dominator" here to stay?
In heavyweight action, fan-favorite Pat Barry will look to raze "The Skyscraper" in his titanic tilt opposite Stefan Struve. Can "HD" unleash his wicked leg kicks on the lanky Dutchman? Or find a way to get himself submitted just when the gettin' is good?
Anthony Johnson looks to insert himself into the very short list of 170-pound title contenders -- but only if he can stop the momentum of the recently relevant Charlie Brenneman.
Rounding out the four-fight main card is a 155-pound rematch between Mac Danzig and Matt Wiman. Was the Vegan warrior's phantom tap the only thing stopping him from an ugly win over "Handsome?" Or will Wiman finish what he started at UFC 155.
Let's take a look.
Dominick Cruz vs. Demetrious Johnson is a fight that hasn't been generating much fan buzz, which is unfortunate, because the champion is one of the best fighters we have in the game today.
How does a mixed martial artist who is 18-1, who also avenged his only loss, get left off the pound-for-pound list? Is there some random 135-pounder Cruz has been ducking? Hasn't he beat the best his division has to offer?
That will show you the power of the finish.
Perceptually speaking, I suppose, since fans (and most media) don't subscribe to the old "a win is a win" theory. Cruz too, must also shoulder some of the blame. Don't call yourself "The Dominator" but then go to a decision in seven of your last eight fights.
Still, his talent is undeniable, as is the speed of Johnson, who brings a credible, if not overwhelming challenge to the Verizon Center.
Unfortunately Cruz has already shown in prior bouts that he has the footwork and timing to avoid not just speed, but a wrestling-based offense and when it does go south, there are few challengers who are able to keep him there.
This will not be a replay of Torres vs. Johnson.
But it wouldn't surprise me to see a replay of Cruz vs. Benavidez -- with a similar outcome. You can't outstrike the champ, you can't hold him down and you can't make him tired. I don't see much here to get excited about and five rounds of defensive striking and in-and-out action will likely bring out the boo birds.
Dominick Cruz def. Demetrius Johnson via unanimous decision
Pat Barry vs. Stefan Struve is a frustrating fight from a prediction standpoint, as two scenarios play out with similar ease: Struve gets his legs turned into firewood by the incomparable kicks from his brutish foe, or he tangles Barry up and exploits what could be one of the worst ground games in the entire heavyweight division.
I'm going with the latter.
It pains me, because I'm an "HD" fan, but I can't believe any fight corner worthy paying would allow their star prospect to enter the Octagon against the New Orleans striker with the idea that a feeling out process doesn't earn him a "Wheelchair of the Night" bonus.
Yes, Barry was put to sleep by Cheick Kongo, but I think based on past performances that was the exception and not the rule. He's also faster, stronger and while shorter, can probably walk through a rangy push-kick or long distance jab without the fear of getting iced.
What he does need to worry about is wounding his prey and then giving it away. Flashback to the Denis Stojnic fight to get an idea of what kind of heart the Dutchman has. If you hurt him, you have to finish him.
Look for Struve to get annihilated on his feet -- only to jump on Barry like a facehugger from Alien to strangle his way to an ugly submission victory.
Stefan Struve def. Pat Barry via submission
Anthony Johnson vs. Charlie Brenneman will bring a cruel end to the feel-good story of 2011. "The Spaniard" did something special when he overcame Rick Story back in June, but let's also remember that it was Rick Story. It's not like he submitted Nick Diaz or knocked out Jon Fitch.
And I believe the Anthony Johnson that stifled Dan Hardy walks through Brenneman in round one.
It's not that I was overly impressed with "Rumble's" wrestling, as it was well documented that he was a successful college wrestler (and Hardy is helpless on the mat), rather it was his conditioning -- something that has plagued the massive welterweight -- that finally looked to be mastered.
That kind of thing can be a problem when you cut from north of 200-pounds.
I don't want to make it sound out of the realm of possibility that Brenneman gets him down and submits him, but first he has to get inside and his striking is avegarage (at best) and Johnson is just too strong and too dangerous in the stand-up to fall early.
Johnson's striking > Brenneman's wrestling.
Simply put, it's a race against the clock: Brenneman has to keep from getting knocked out long enough to tire Johnson out. I don't see it happening.
Anthony Johnson def. Charlie Brenneman via technical knockout
Matt Wiman vs. Mac Danzig, a rematch from UFC 115, will finally settle the controversy stemming from their first bout when Danzig lost by submission despite never tapping to Wiman's guillotine choke or passing out.
Heading into D.C., Danzig is coming off a win, Wiman a loss. On paper this would seem like a close match-up but I think we shouldn't put a ton of stock in Danzig's one-hitter quitter over Joe Stevenson, who was in the midst of a four-fight skid that eventually saw him released from the promotion.
Since winning The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), Danzig has failed to impress and limped his way through 2008-09 after dropping three straight. He's got serviceable hands and a highly-rated ground game, but for my money Wiman is the more well-rounded fighter.
I don't think Wiman will finish what he started, but I do expect him to control this fight for the better part of three rounds and sweep the judges scorecards en route to a unanimous decision win.
Matt Wiman def. Mac Danzig via unanimous decision
Alright Maniacs, that's my best guess as to how the UFC on Versus 6 televised fight card will play out. What's yours?
Let's hear some predictions in the comments section below.
The UFC on Versus 6 main event between Dominick Cruz and Demetrious Johnson won't start until tomorrow night (Oct. 1) at the Verizon Center, but the war of words is already underway. Hear what both camps are saying right here.
"I still feel like I'm 26. ...The guy that was making his debut in the UFC, he didn't know half the things I know now. The thing is, nobody gets cut off a win. Not unless you've done something and screwed up. That's my only concern, is going out there and winning, keeping my job, and keep moving up the ladder. When it comes to the fight game (being on the pay-per-view card) means absolutely nothing to me. This fight could be behind a Wal-Mart. All I have to worry about is, that's the guy I'm fighting. That's all that matters."
Lightweight veteran Yves Edwards, who will have fight number 59 of his professional career this Saturday night (Oct. 1) against Rafaello Oliveira at UFC on Versus 6 from the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., tells MMA Fighting he doesn't care about making the pay-per-view main card at this stage in his mixed martial arts career -- he just cares about winning. Staying in the win column means staying employed and at 35-years-old, the clock may be ticking on the master of Thug-jitsu. Anyone think he can overcome "The Tractor" on fight night? Or are his best days behind him? Thoughts?
"There are always two battles: One inside the Octagon and another one against the weight."
UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo details the struggles to make weight for his upcoming title defense against Kenny Florian at UFC 136: "Edgar vs. Maynard III" on Oct. 8 from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.
Can "Junior" shred the pounds and then shred "KenFlo?" Or is anyone predicting an upset in "The Lone Star State?"
The official weigh in event for UFC on Versus 6: "Cruz vs. Johnson" took place earlier today (Sept. 30, 2011) at the DC Armory (2001 East Capitol Street SE) in Washington, D.C.
Birthday boy and lightweight veteran Yves Edwards brought cupcakes with him to the scale, which Byron Bloodworth may have gotten a taste of backstage considering he was three pounds overweight for his bantamweight brawl against Mike Easton.
Check back in two hours to see if he made his mark.
Update -- Bloodworth will be fined a portion of his purse and Edwards has agreed to go ahead with the bout at a catchweight of 138-pounds.
UFC on Versus 6 will be headlined by a bantamweight title fight that features champion Dominick Cruz trying to dominate the division's mightiest mouse, Demetrious Johnson. In the co-featured fight of the night, one of the heavyweight division's shortest fighters, Pat Barry, will take on its tallest, Stefan Struve.
Other match ups set for the televised main card include a welterweight war between Anthony Johnson and Charlie Brenneman, as well as a long awaited rematch that pits Mac Danzig vs. Matt Wiman.
Complete UFC on Versus 6 weigh in results after the jump:
Main event:
135 lbs.: Dominick Cruz (135) vs. Demetrious Johnson (135)
Main card (Versus):
265 lbs.: Pat Barry (243) vs. Stefan Struve (261)
170 lbs.: Anthony Johnson (171) vs. Charlie Brenneman
(171)
155 lbs.: Mac Danzig (155) vs. Matt Wiman (156)
Preliminary card (Facebook):
155 lbs.: Michael Johnson (156) vs. Paul Sass (155)
155 lbs.: Yves Edwards (155) vs. Rafaello Oliveira
(155)
135 lbs.: Byron Bloodworth (138)* vs. Mike Easton (135)
170 lbs.: T.J. Grant (155) vs. Shane Roller (156)
155 lbs.: Josh Neer (171) vs. Keith Wisniewski
(170)
135 lbs.: Joseph Sandoval (134) vs. Walel Watson (134.5)
*Has two hours to shed the excess weight
Remember that MMAmania.com will provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action on fight night (Sat., Oct. 1), which is slated to air at 9 p.m. ET on the Versus network. The latest quick updates of the live action will begin to flow earlier than that around 7 p.m. ET with the preliminary bouts.
It's going to be a fun night of fights so don't miss it. And remember to check us out for all the pre, during and post-fight UFC on Versus 6 coverage you can handle.
The official weigh-in event for Bellator 52's Saturday evening fight card took place earlier today (Sept. 30, 2011) at the L'Auberge du Lac Casino Resort in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
The preliminary card was a comedy of errors, as Genair de Silva, Cosmo Alexandre and Nick Nichols all failed to make weight. They have two hours to go back and try again but considering the overages, only Alexandre has a legitimate chance to make his mark.
Bellator 52 will be the continuation of the promotion's fifth season as eight heavyweights square off in the quarterfinals for the right to challenge for the title and earn a cool $100,000.
Returning to the tournament will be former season three runner-up Neil Grove and season three tournament participant Mike Hayes, who's won three fights in the past year to earn an invite.
They will be joined by the a group of tournament newcomers which includes Ultimate Fighter season 10 competitor Abe Wagner, undefeated prospect Ron Sparks, tough Brazilian Thiago Santos, Sambo champion Blagoi Ivanov, knockout artist Eric Prindle and gritty Oklahoman Mark Holata.
Complete Bellator 52 weigh in results after the jump:
Main Card
265 lbs.: Neil Grove (265.5) vs. Mike Hayes (228)
265 lbs.: Blagoi Ivanov (244) vs. Zak Jensen (265)
265 lbs.: Eric Prindle (265.5) vs. Abe Wagner (247.5)
265 lbs.: Mark Holata (258) vs. Ron Sparks (263)
Local Feature Fights (Spike.com)
145 lbs.: Genair de Silva (150)* vs. Bryan Goldsby (144.4)
155 lbs.: Cosmo Alexandre (157)* vs. Josh Quayhagen (156)
265 lbs.: Liron Wilson (227.4) vs. Justin Frazier (263)
205 lbs.: Matt Van Buren (204.2) vs. Nick Nichols (213.6)*
*Has two hours to lose the extra weight
Remember that MMAMania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of Bellator 52, beginning with the MTV2 telecast starting at 9 p.m. ET tomorrow night (October 1).
It's going to be a great night of fights so don't miss it, and remember to check us out for all the post-fight coverage after tomorrow night's card is wrapped up.
See you then!
Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Stefan Struve and Demetrious Johnson pictured above, we can all "get along."
Teaming up with MMA sites like MiddleEasy, Cage Potato, Fight Opinion and Five Ounces of Pain, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport.
This week, Charlie Brenneman speaks with Lowkick about his upcoming fight, UFC bantamweight champion issues part three of his training diary for his UFC on Versus 6 title defense to NBC Sports and Fight Opinion's Zach Arnold discusses the mixed messages that are being sent about the UFC's decision to hold two events on the same night for its return to Japan.
The full list of links is after the jump.
- Exclusive interview with Charlie Brenneman (LowKick)
- Dominick Cruz training diary part three (NBC Sports MMA)
- Open discussion: Should marijuana be considered a PED? (Cage Potato)
- Ryan Jimmo: UFC will be looking to sign me if I beat Sokodjou (Five Ounces of Pain)
- Mike Chiappetta speaks with Roger Huerta (MMA Fighting)
- Jon Jones has a 'How-To' manual for beating Rashad Evans (5thRound)
- XARM is back! (MiddleEasy)
- Fighter pulls off Fisherman Suplex in MMA bout (TheFightNerd)
- All kinds of messages sent with same-day events planned for UFC in Japan (Fight Opinion)
- Frank Mir inks sponsorship with Xyience (MMA Payout)
- Paul Daley discusses his desire to return to the UFC (BleacherReport.com/MMA)
UFC on Versus 6 is finally upon us, as Dominick Cruz and Demetrious Johnson get their hands dirty in tomorrow night's (Oct. 1) championship main event from the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.
And that means there's money to be made for the gamblers among us.
First you have to win, of course, and you should never bet what you can't afford to lose, but since I've recently started putting money down on the sport I love, I thought it might be prudent to share some wagering tips before major UFC and MMA events, pointing out the most profitable scraps.
And which bouts to avoid.
Included in the UFC on Versus 6 betting guide are all the odds for tomorrow night's show, but first check out my three important rules every bettor should follow right here.
Now then, let's get to it.
We have a fantastic-looking free card this weekend and any time you get a title fight for free, life is good. Plus, Pat Barry vs. Stefan Struve should be one of the funniest fights ever -- for however long it lasts.
Plus, we’ve got some tasty-looking odds.
Let’s break it down and see where we can make some cash on the side. As usual, the lines provided are from Bodog.com, and Odds Shark has side-by-side comparisons of various sites' odds if you're looking to shop around.
These lines are accurate as of today.
Undercard
Michael Johnson (-180) vs. Paul Sass (+150)
Yves Edwards (-165) vs. Rafaello Oliveira (+135)
Mike Easton (-340) vs. Byron Bloodworth (+260)
Walel Watson (-130) vs. Joseph Sandoval (EVEN)
Josh Neer (-270) vs. Keith Wisniewski (+210)
Shane Roller (-200) vs. T.J. Grant (+160)
Thoughts: The two guys that strike me as bargains are Paul Sass and Joseph Sandoval. Johnson is a good, mid-tier fighter, but Paul Sass has proven surprisingly adept at taking out mid-tier fighters. A win over Rob Sinclair means a LOT, and in that fight, Paul also demonstrated very good wrestling to accompany his nasty guard game. As I mentioned in my breakdown, Johnson has four submission losses to his name, while Sass has ten submission finishes. Look for his grappling to frustrate Johnson into a late submission loss.
I haven’t seen too much of Sandoval besides rather grainy footage of his last effort, but what I saw impressed me enough to pick him over Watson. He’s primarily a standup fighter and his hands are above-average. The kicker for me, however, is Watson’s complete ignorance regarding how to react to punches. The man doesn’t use his range and he backs straight up, hands down when pressured. Don’t make him the focus of your parlays (I’m stretching Rule One as is), but at even odds, he’s worth at least a few bucks on the side.
Main Card
Anthony Johnson (-185) vs. Charlie Brenneman (+155)
Pat Barry (-185) vs. Stefan Struve (+155)
Matt Wiman (-205) vs. Mac Danzig (+165)
Dominick Cruz (-525) vs. Demetrious Johnson (+325)
Thoughts: Odds are a bit closer than last week, excluding the main event. Let’s break it down and see if we’ve got anything worth laying some money down on.
Brenneman is, without a doubt, the single best bargain on this entire card. His wrestling is damn good, even considering the wrestling monsters dominating his division. He was outgrappling Hendricks before the man’s ungodly left hand found Charlie’s jaw, and he dominated noted wrestlers Jason High and Rick Story.
Yes, Rumble is a wrestler, but that didn’t stop Clementi or Kos from taking him down and dominating him on the ground. Of course, Rumble can end the fight with any one of his limbs at any time, so it’s a bit risky, but I don’t anticipate Brenneman giving him the opportunity to plant himself and throw bombs.
Yes, I said most of this same hyperbole about Takanori Gomi last week, but my crippling devotionto all things PRIDE isn’t coming to play this time. Plus, I doubt anyone wants to see a Brenneman lay-and-pray fest, so putting money on him is a win/win: either you make a good amount of money, or you get to see Rumble splatter Brenneman’s skull across the Octagon. Go big here.
The odds on Barry-Struve look tempting, and Struve’s inability to shoot takedowns or defend punches with anything besides his face has me pretty convinced that Barry is going to paste him, but I just can’t shake the thought that Struve is going to find a way to wrap Barry into his guard and submit him from there. I’m also afraid that Barry, in traditional Barry fashion, is going to find some way to choke in the cusp of victory.
If you’re going to put money down, put it on Barry, but I can’t bring myself to recommend it with any degree of certainty.
Wiman has certainly done better than Danzig in recent times; knocking out Joe Stevenson doesn’t hold a candle to obliterating Cole Miller and giving Dennis Siver all he could handle. The only reason I’m not directing you towards emptying your wallet on Wiman is because I’ve seen approximately three minutes of Danzig in action: his fight with Stevenson and the first Wiman bout.
From what I HAVE seen, though, Wiman has the jaw, wrestling, and defensive grappling to avoid being finished in any fashion. I can see him putting Danzig on his back and dribbling his skull against the canvas for four minutes. He’s worth a parlay, and if he gets better than -180 by Saturday, go straight-up.
Let me say it flat-out: Dominick Cruz is not losing at 135 to the present crop of contenders. His wrestling, timing, cardio, and funky striking are too much for pretty much everyone I can think of. The only way I can see to beat him is to counter him on one of his hands-down lunges, and the only person I can see with the necessary power and speed to put him to sleep with that one blow is KID Yamamoto (who I don’t think will be challenging for the title any time soon).
Johnson is fast, Johnson is relentless, and Johnson is a very sound wrestler. Unfortunately, so was Urijah, so was Benavidez, and so was Jorgenson. Johnson simply doesn’t possess the sort of skillset necessary to take out Cruz. He doesn’t have the power to stop him standing, the takedown defense to avoid that inhuman knee-tap, or the takedown offense to put Cruz on his back. At -525, Cruz isn’t worth a straight bet at this time, but with the number of close lines, sticking him in a parlay can turn a – into a +.
My Current Bets:
Single Bet: Joseph Sandoval-$30 to win $30
Single Bet: Charlie Brenneman-$65 to win $100.75
Parlay: Dominick Cruz and Charlie Brenneman-$54.86 to win $111.68
Parlay: Paul Sass and Dominick Cruz-$36 to win $71.14
Yeah, I'm going a bit crazy this week after doing so badly last week. This will probably come back to bite me, but fortune favors the bold.
Remember: never bet more than you can lose, bet with your head, and don’t let betting get in the way of your enjoying MMA. We’ve got an excellent weekend of fights ahead of us, so have fun.
Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez was expected to make his second title defense in mid October against the season four 155-pound tournament champion Michael Chandler. Instead, the bout has been delayed due to a nagging injury in his training camp at the Philadelphia Fight Factory.
The top-ranked lightweight explains his current predicament to HDNet:
"Without giving anything away, I just want to let fans know and let people know I tried to work through the injury. It seemed like every time, it was basically the last 10 days, every time I would get a little bit of momentum, I would setback, get a little momentum, setback. In all honesty, for me, it wouldn't be right. I'd be selling myself short to go out there on the 15th and I'd be selling the fans short to go out there on the 15th. They would be expecting to see somebody and with the consistent injury bug, there's just no way I could get the momentum to be 100 percent prepared for the 15th. It's very important to rest my body properly.The fight is not cancelled. it's just postponed I think 30 days or so. I apologize to you guys. It's not in my nature to make my injuries a part of a promotion's problem, a part of the fans' problem but again it wouldn't be fair. It wouldn't be fair to the people wasting their night tuning in and seeing me at 60-70 percent."
We wish "The Silent Assassin" a speedy recovery. Do you expect to see him back on time, Maniacs?
Why are MMA fans so cranky? Yep, it's that time of the month again.
Rankings!
Our partners in crime over at BloodyElbow.com have once again published their divisional rankings for mixed martial arts in the nation’s largest daily newspaper, USA Today, for the month of September 2011.
For those of you unfamiliar with the process, here’s how it works:
"The rankings, which will offer a definitive perspective of top MMA fighters across all weight-classes, will be released monthly and published in the Sports section of USA TODAY, online at USATODAY.com and on SB Nation’s MMA commentary and community blog, BloodyElbow.com … The USA TODAY/SB Nation Consensus MMA Rankings are compiled each month by Nate Wilcox and Richard Wade of BloodyElbow.com. The rankings utilize each of the top MMA rankings from multiple unique sources. A weighted-formula is applied to normalize and distill the various rankings into one consensus ranking per weight class."
To check out the latest USAT/SBN rankings click here. We’ve also listed their top 10 in each class after the jump for your convenience.
Heavyweight:
1. Cain Velasquez
2. Junior dos Santos
3. Alistair Overeem
4. Brock Lesnar
5. Fabricio Werdum
6. Frank Mir
7. Shane Carwin
8. Josh Barnett
9. Daniel Cormier
10. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
Light heavyweight:
1. Jon Jones
2. Mauricio Rua
3. Rashad Evans
4. Quinton Jackson
5. Lyoto Machida
6. Dan Henderson
7. Phil Davis
8. Forrest Griffin
9. Rafael Cavalcante
10. Gegard Mousasi
Middleweight:
1. Anderson Silva
2. Yushin Okami
3. Chael Sonnen
4. Mark Munoz
5. Vitor Belfort
6. Brian Stann
7. Demian Maia
8. Michael Bisping
9. Nate Marquardt
10. Luke Rockhold
Welterweight:
1. Georges St. Pierre
2. Jon Fitch
3. Carlos Condit
4. Nick Diaz
5. Josh Koscheck
6. Jake Shields
7. B.J. Penn
8. Jake Ellenberger
9. Charlie Brenneman
10. Rick Story
Lightweight:
1. Frankie Edgar
2. Gray Maynard
3. Gilbert Melendez
4. Shinya Aoki
5. Eddie Alvarez
6. Ben Henderson
7. Clay Guida
8. Jim Miller
9. Melvin Guillard
10. Anthony Pettis
Featherweight:
1. Jose Aldo
2. Hatsu Hioki
3. Chad Mendes
4. Kenny Florian
5. Pat Curran
6. Marlon Sandro
7. Mark Hominick
8. Diego Nunes
9. Tyson Griffin
10. Manny Gamburyan
Bantamweight:
1. Dominick Cruz
2. Joseph Benavidez
3. Brian Bowles
4. Urijah Faber
5. Demetrious Johnson
6. Scott Jorgensen
7. Miguel Torres
8. Brad Pickett
9. Takeya Mizugaki
10. Masakatsu Ueda
What do you think? Looking good on all fronts or are there a few issues with the consensus opinions here?
Share your ranking rants in the comments section below.
After dropping three of his last four UFC fights at light heavyweight, Luiz Cane has made the decision to drop down to 185-pounds, according to Tatame. Any of you Maniacs got a good match-up in mind for him in his new division?
UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz doesn't have the reputation of a finisher with the killer instinct fight fans so often lust for but it's not for lack of trying. In fact, he says that's always the goal but if he can't get it, he's got something else in mind:
"That's what I'm trying to do every single fight. If I don't get the finish, I'm trying to embarrass you for five rounds and get a dominating victory, like no doubt. So absolutely, I'm trying to go out there and finish the fight ASAP."
Can Demetrious Johnson avoid getting "embarrassed" or "dominated" for five rounds by the greatest 135-pound fighter on the planet at UFC on Versus 6 this Sat., Oct. 1 in Washington D.C.?