Irish Whip Fighting: December 2007

About The Name

Many of our readers wonder why our name doesn't have "UFC" or "MMA" in it. We think that too many sites begin or end with those acronyms (one of the main reasons we're such good pals with Martial Base). Truth be told, IWF started as a wrestling and MMA site, and the "Irish Whip" is one of wrestling's most hard-hitting moves. We also thought that a "whip" could be another name for biting, on-point commentary, the same commentary we hope to provide here. The name stuck, we couldn't change, and well...we just like being different than all the rest. Providing quality insights, no more or less news than you need to know, and the absolute best interviews on the web (seriously, how do we get all those guys? -- Liddell, Henderson, Ken Shamrock twice each), we like to think we're doing a pretty good job.

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Monday, December 31, 2007

Yarennoka! Results

No big surprises here...Fedor and most of the lightweights rolled with the noted exception of Gilbert Melendez, who lost his decision.

* Shinya Aoki def. Jung Bu-Kyung via unanimous decision
* Hayato Sakurai def. Hidehiko Hasegawa via unanimous decision
* Fedor Emelianenko def. Hong Man Choi via submision (arm-bar) — Round 1, 1:54
* Kazuo Misaki def. Yoshihiro Akiyama via TKO (strikes) — Rond 1, 7:48
* Mitsuhiro Ishida def. Gilbert Melendez via unanimous decision
* Makoto Takimoto def. Murilo Bustamante via split decision
* Tatsuya Kawajiri def. Luiz Azeredo via unanimous decision
* Michael Russow def. Roman Zentsov via submission (choke) — Round 1, 2:58

Yarennoka! Preview

A bevy of former PRIDE fighters will meet tonight in a joint venture between M-1 and old PRIDE executives. In another twist of joint programming, the fights will be shown on Mark Cuban's HDNet.

Even though JZ Calvancante was forced to pull out of the event, top fighters Tatsuya Kawajiri, Gilbert Melendez, Shinya Aoki, and Hayato Sakurai (three of which are IWF ranked) will be at the event, although none facing one another. Wins on their parts should help their rankings, which have recently fallen due to inactivity.

Top HW Fedor Emelianenko will also be in attendance, facing Hong Man Choi in the night's main event.

(Heavyweight): Roman Zentsov vs. Mike Russow
(Lightweight): Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Luiz Azeredo
(Middleweight): Makoto Takimoto vs. Murilo Bustamante
(Lightweight): Gilbert Melendez vs. Mitsuhiro Ishida
(Middleweight): Kazuo Misaki vs Yoshihiro Akiyama
(Lightweight): Hayato Sakurai vs. Hidehiko Hasegawa
(Lightweight): Shinya Aoki vs. Bu-kyung Jung
(Heavyweight): Fedor Emelianenko vs. Hong-Man Choi

Sunday, December 30, 2007

"UFC" Is Fourth Most Searched Sports Term

According to Yahoo's buzz index, "UFC" was the fourth most searched term in the sports realm on December 29, 2007. It was only beat out by "NFL," "NBA," and "Dallas Cowboys."

I'll try to avoid stating the obvious, but it's just so much fun to say. The UFC has arrived. The search term of our beloved fighting organization was ranked ahead of mainstays such as "Super Bowl," "NASCAR," "NHL," "MLB," and even "Anna Kournikova." When you outrank Russian tennis stars, your time has come.

It's clear that the UFC has begun to outpace most other major sports in terms of popularity. It's been beating most competitors in attendance per event for over a year now, too. With large network contracts looming, it won't be long until MMA is considered among the four majors in sporting coverage.

Melvin Guillard Interview

IWF writer Ben Zeidler recently chatted with “The Young Assassin” Melvin Guillard about his then-upcoming fight at UFC 79 and recent loss against Joe Stevenson. In addition, Guillard gave us the last word on his cocaine suspension and had some words of his own for recently embattled Sean Sherk. Originally written for MMA Madness.

Ben Zeidler: You’re just 24 years old and yet, you have 29 fights under your belt. How long do you expect to fight and do you notice yourself improving as you get more experienced in the sport?

Melvin Guillard: I have 39 fights, actually. They don’t have them all listed on there. I’m improving everyday, especially with my ground game. As long as I’m healthy, I’ll continue to fight. Randy Couture is almost 45 and he still does it, so it’s all about how you live and keep up with your body. Hopefully, I’ll have a long and prosperous trip in this sport. I love it so much, man. Even when I’m done with fighting, I’m gonna do coaching and all those good things.

BZ: You’ve really improved since your loss to Josh Burkman on TUF 2. What did that loss teach you about fighting in a major organization like the UFC? Was it your “welcome to the big time” moment?

MG: It was a perfect place to get all my nerves off. I was nervous to fight in front of Dana [White] and by the time I got in front of huge crowds, I was comfortable. I actually like a big crowd – it’s the smaller setting and getting that out of the way that is tougher. But after I did, it was a breeze and it was all downhill from there.

BZ: You’ve beaten a former WEC champ in Gabe Ruediger and current contender Marcus Davis. Would you call one of these wins your biggest or does another come to mind?

MG: They’re just wins to me. They weren’t real big things. Marcus is a way better fighter than when we fought. I’d still have the upper hand if we fought today, but he’s much better than when I beat him. Ruediger, I don’t think we’ll be seeing much more of him. Once you quit the show, you quit it all. My biggest fight was the Joe Stevenson fight. It’s the fight that I look at the most because I was the main event. That doesn’t happen every day. When the UFC tells you that they want you to be the main event that’s a big deal. It doesn’t happen to everyone.

BZ: What’s it like to train with Tito and Team Punishment?

MG: I moved to Houston, so I’m not with Tito anymore. I moved here during the Stevenson training and I love it. I’m [fighting] out of the Metro Fight Club now.

BZ: I recently read that you got your BJJ blue belt under Ricco Rodriguez. What has that experience -- working with a former champion – been like?

MG: It’s good, man. I’ve been focusing on my weaknesses and obviously my weak point is my jiu-jitsu. I got caught in silly submissions before, but now I’m the one putting people in them. I really want to be a well-rounded fighter and I’m putting myself to the test to see if I can roll with some of the best. I’m going to be doing some submission and grappling tournaments too, to keep my skills sharp.

BZ: Tell us what the deal is with testing positive for cocaine. I spoke with Sherk yesterday and he was telling me about some of the accuracy problems that these facilities have – samples mixing, cleaning not being done, and so on. Do you feel that something like that may have happened with your sample?

MG: I made my mistake. I did wrong… and I faced my time. I never thought they messed up my sample. You know, us, as adults and fighters, we have to take responsibility for our actions. That’s coward of him to say if that’s what he said. That’s his business though and I won’t really get into that. My negative experience is behind me and I have to look to the future. I don’t even really want to talk about that anymore because it is in the past.

BZ: Let’s talk about your upcoming UFC 79 fight against Rich Clementi. He’s a skilled submission artist. What are you doing in your training to prepare for this?

MG: Lots of ground game. I’m upping the ante on this one. I think that Rich is one-dimensional and I’m not predicting a KO or how fast I’m going to beat him. I just want my hand raised at the end. This fight means the world to me. I have a lot of animosity towards this guy and I need to beat him so I can walk around here with my head up. I don’t want people to be able to tell me that Rich Clementi beat my ass. When you’re young and the neighborhood bully is coming around, you get into a fight every time you see him. That’s not what I want with Rich. I’m trying to fight him here, beat him, and give him his walking papers.

BZ: How do you feel you match up to Rich?

MG: I’m not giving away my secrets. Everyone already expects a certain fight from me but I’m throwing some twists and turns in there. It’s not just going to be my usual aggressive stand up. I’m gonna work him hard for 15 minutes.

BZ: So you’re saying not to get a beer during the fight?

MG: That’s right, and if you gotta go to the bathroom, either go before or hold it because this is one fight you don’t want to miss. It’s going to be the fight of the night.

BZ: Is there any bad blood between you guys?

MG: There’s always bad blood. I have no respect for him and if there’s anyone on this God given earth that I want to beat, this is the guy. I tried to apologize to him and he accepted it and then snaked me after accepting it and said all this other stuff. I’m through with him. I just want to wash my hands of him.

BZ: Provided you win the fight, whom would you like to take on next?

MG: Right now, I just want to pay attention to this fight. But after it, I would like to take on Roger Huerta. So look forward to that one down the line. I think it’s a great match up and hopefully the UFC people will make it happen.

BZ: Would you ever want a rematch with Joe Stevenson?

MG: Oh yeah, down the line, I’d have a rematch with him. I’m hoping that he wins the title and if the Lord blesses him with it, then maybe they will see me as a good first title defense. He beat me in only 27 seconds though, so it’s tough for me to say that I deserve it. I’m going to take Clementi now, but down the line I could see it happening.

BZ: It’s a big card on December 29th. Let’s get some predictions for the big fights that night.

BZ: Guillard vs. Clementi?

MG: I think it will be the fight of the night and hopefully I will honor myself with a bonus.

BZ: Liddell vs. Silva?

MG: I’m gonna give it to Chuck. He throws straight punches and Wanderlei doesn’t have the reach.

BZ: St. Pierre vs. Hughes?

MG: St. Pierre. I’ll always take St. Pierre. You would be crazy to go against him.

BZ: Any sponsors you’d like to thank?

MG: So many, man. Warrior Wear, Suzuki performance, there’s so many I don’t even know all of them.

BZ: Any last words for the fans?

MG: The only thing I can send is a formal apology. I let them down, but I’m back, focused, and ready to fight.

Saturday, December 29, 2007

UFC 79 Results

Check back here tonight for live results of UFC 79. Look after the jump for results.

Matt Hughes vs. Georges St. Pierre III (Welterweight title)
-Georges St. Pierre wins by Submission (Arm Bar) in Round 2 (4:54)

Chuck Liddell vs. Wanderlei Silva
-Chuck Liddell wins by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)

Soi Palalei vs. Eddie Sanchez
-Eddie Sanchez wins by TKO (Strikes) in Round 3 (3:24)

Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou vs. Lyoto Machida
-Lyoto Machida wins by Submission (Arm Triangle) in Round 2 (4:20)

Rich Clementi vs. Melvin Guillard
-Clementi wins via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) in Round 2 (4:40)

Dean Lister vs. Jordan Radev
-Dean Lister wins via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

James Irvin vs. Luis Cane
-James Irvin wins via DQ (Illegal Knee)

Roan Carneiro vs. Tony DeSouza
-Roan Carneiro wins by TKO (Strikes) in Round 2 (3:30)

Manny Gamburyan vs. Nate Mohr
-Manny Gamburyan wins by Submission (Heel Hook) in Round 1 (1:31)

Doug Evans vs. Mark Bocek
-Mark Bocek wins via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Friday, December 28, 2007

Classic Fights Close Door On 2007

UFC 79 offers up a buffet of mega fights. Georges St. Pierre and Matt Hughes look to set the bar for MMA trilogies with an interim title clash. Wanderlei Silva and Chuck Liddell seek the knockout that can cement their legacy as the greatest 205-pounder in MMA history. Young talents Rameau Thierry Sokodjou and Lyoto Machida battle to validate their mystique en route to title contention. Saturday night aims to bring New Year’s fireworks two days early.

By Danny Acosta

The third installment of the trilogy between Georges St. Pierre and Matt Hughes includes storylines that transcend the sport. Hughes is the established champion, secure in his hall of fame status, mulling retirement but still sharpening his competitive edge. He takes on the paragon for the future—an unstoppable entity that has both succumb and overcome the pressures of elite competition.

Despite Matt Hughes’ hopes, St. Pierre stepping in on short notice is not an issue. The Greg Jackson-trained fighter stays active between matches and was training Rashad Evans for a November clash. Shortly after, he jumped at the opportunity to regain his top spot in the 170lb division when Matt Serra stepped down due to injury.

“Rush” dethroned the Illinois native with ease last November. It was a different fighter than Hughes had seen in their 2004 bout. The French Canadian nullified takedowns and punished him every step of the way. Rangy and fluid strikes ended the Miletich champion’s night early after St. Pierre followed up with ground and pound to a technical knockout.

Hughes cannot enter this fight with his, “I’ll find a way to win” attitude that hindered his second performance. There is no doubt he is one of the most resourceful fighters in history. However, his opponent’s ability to dictate where the fight takes place will not allow for openings. Hughes must make them.

With his ties cut from the MIletich camp for the first time, Hughes needs to remember what MFS imparted to him—confidence and strict game plans. Recalling that he submitted St. Pierre, Hughes has to inch forward, cutting off angles and bullying St. Pierre against the cage. Putting the twenty-six-year-old on his back and grinding out a decision is the former champion’s best bet. Pushing St. Pierre into the latter rounds and neutralizing his offense can dent confidence—the deciding factor of this fight.

If Hughes pulls out a victory, he reasserts his legend against the man who questioned it the loudest. If he loses, St. Pierre rises into his spot as the most dominant welterweight in the world, but still has the long road of reign ahead of him—including a clash with Matt Serra.

In the co-main event, former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell loads up his counter-punching power against former Pride middleweight champion Wanderlei Silva. The fight is five years in the making, stemming from their extensive time as unflappable champions.

For Liddell, the lights of stardom shined too bright for him to see in the Octagon, leading to two devastating losses. For Silva, back-to-back knockout defeats have sent him to rest his battle-worn body while building his murderous rage. Although the fight has lost its king versus king significance, the implications are heavy—the winner may be recognized as the greatest 205-pounder in MMA history.

The “Iceman” cannot rely solely on his fists as he did against Keith Jardine because Silva will throw everything in his arsenal with malice. Kicks are the most integral part of the San Luis Obispo fighter’s game plan. They can punish Silva and keep him at a distance, causing confusion for the former Chute Boxer as suffered against Mirko Crocop. More importantly, they set up Liddell’s looping power punches. The blitzkrieg that is Silva plays right into Liddell’s counterpunching style. Mixing strikes increases the Brazilian’s chances of making a grave mistake—Liddell’s trademark, punctuated with the heavy right hand.

However, like Liddell, the “Axe Murderer” has excellent recovery time. America’s newest import must close the distance and push the pace. Emphasizing traditional boxing in preparation for this fight counters Liddell’s Kempo style well. It will allow the nearly forty-fight veteran to close the distance where he can launch his hatchet-like knees. Silva cannot come forward wildly, but he must be relentless because Liddell will not stick around in the clinch.

Despite the strategies involved in the two different yet dangerous styles, make no mistake—this is a fight that rests on the answer to one question: “Who gets to whose chin first?” (Dave Camarillo). There is no title on the line when Liddell battles Silva. But for the “Axe Murderer” and the “Iceman,” there is still a trophy—the other’s head.

In another light heavyweight bout with serious career implications, Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou challenges Lyoto Machida. “Judo Thierry” debuts in the UFC still clouded in questions—just as Machida did in his stateside journey—about his cardio, heart, and chin…to name a few.

Sokoudjou has drawn criticism, ironically, because his showings have been so strong, knocking out Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Ricardo Arona. His aggressive and heavy style is what Machida has made a living toppling. The karate stylist is defensive but destructive in his own right. He has been looking to finish fights since joining the UFC. This can cause problems for Sokoudjou, who lacks experience and typically fights his fight. Coming forward and staying cautious is the undefeated fighter’s route to victory.

“The African Assassin” has a distinct size advantage. After testing the stand-up waters, taking the fight to the cage and employing his judo to set up ground and pound is his best bet to finish the Japanese-Brazilian. Stifled against the fence, Machida cannot be elusive.

The winner propels himself into title contention, a loss is only a minor setback in a young, promising career.

Heavyweight Eddie Sanchez stands across from Soa Palalei in the swing bout of the night. Palelei, training out of Team Quest, enters the bout with a more diverse arsenal than the game, but narrow-minded Sanchez. The Samoan exploits stubborness to a technical knockout victory.

In a lightweight bout to open the night, New Orleans pride is on the line when Melvin Guillard comes after Rich Clementi in a bad blood battle. Guillard’s athleticism can dictate where the fight occurs, which does not bode well for “No Love.” However, the “Young Assassin” lacks the mental component to his game. This can land him in some trouble—especially on the ground—against a well-rounded veteran like Clementi. Guillard’s high-profile loss and embarrassing cocaine scandal likely brings him out the gate furious. If Clementi can drag the fight on, his chances of snagging a victory increase dramatically.

As UFC 79 comes to a close, four of the sports biggest stars in Georges St. Pierre, Matt Hughes, Wanderlei Silva, and Chuck Liddell will have their careers drastically altered. Concluding the year brings different resolutions for the four: win the title or just survive?

UFC 79 Tomorrow!

Thursday, December 27, 2007

Ten Greatest UFC Upsets

What started as a freak occurrence has seemingly turned into a spiraling epidemic as the best of today’s UFC fighters are going down in a blaze of eight-sided glory. After the year we’ve had in this sport I must approach every pay-per-view with nervous anticipation. It really is true: Anything can happen. An article by MMA Mania's Jesse Holland.

With that in mind I present my list of the ten greatest UFC upsets:

10. Randy Couture vs. Vitor Belfort: UFC 15
At UFC 15, relative newcomer Randy Couture was set to face Vitor Belfort in a match that many experts compared to the ancient practice of feeding Christians to the lions. Couture had only two fights under his belt while Belfort was 4-0 in the Octagon. Not only was he undefeated, Belfort had four straight (T)KO’s and never had a match go longer than two minutes.

Randy was supposed to be a cakewalk for the invincible Brazilian but it was Couture who earned the TKO stopping Belfort with strikes shortly after eight minutes. They would face off two more times in 2004 but the match that will be remembered in my book is probably their first as it ranks as one of the UFC’s first big upsets.

9. Jason Lambert vs. Renato Sobral: UFC 68
Renato Sobral was widely considered one of the top light-heavyweights in the world and for good reason. Since July of 2002 he compiled an impressive 12-2 record including a ten-fight winning streak.

Like Minotauro Nogueira, who could have been on top for years if not for a certain Russian cyborg, Babalu was second only to Chuck Liddell. His bout against Lambert at UFC 68 was supposed to be a chance to get back to his winning ways.

Lambert wasn’t having it. Talented but unproven, Lambert was coming off a KO loss to Rashad Evans and had a history of falling short against popular fighters like Tim Sylvia and Cabbage Correira. He was expected to follow suit against Sobral but instead stunned the world with a lights-out KO at 3:26 of the second round.

8. Frank Mir vs. Marcio Cruz: UFC 57
Believe it or not there was a time when Frank Mir was the poster boy for UFC heavyweights. He was an 8-1 submission master and a fan favorite long before breaking Tim Sylvia’s arm. After a devastating motorcycle accident kept him out of action for nearly two years, the UFC welcomed him back by matching him against Brazilian cream puff Marcio Cruz.

What was planned as a homecoming quickly turned into a nightmare as the 1-0 rookie put Mir on his back and started raining down elbows until a blood soaked Mir could no longer defend. The fight was mercifully stopped at the end of the first round and Frank’s career would never be the same.

7. Mark Coleman vs. Maurice Smith: UFC 14
Mark Coleman was one of the first true heavyweight goliaths of the UFC using his superior wrestling and ground ‘n pound to lay waste to the entire division. At 6-0 he had already destroyed legends Gary Goodridge and Dan Severn by submission and Don Frye by TKO.

His next victim was UFC newcomer Maurice Smith who was 3-4 with submission losses to Ken Shamrock and Bas Rutten. It looked like an early night for the heavily favored Coleman but instead it became a very long one as Maurice put an end to the era of dominant wresting and scored a unanimous decision after twenty-one minutes of fighting.

The Pete Williams head kick may be the loss that fans remember, but to me the Smith fight was a more shocking upset (and what I consider the beginning of the end). Coleman would never see another victory in the UFC and eventually defected to PRIDE in 1999.

6. Jens Pulver vs. Joe Lauzon: UFC 63
Jens Pulver — like most lightweights — was unwelcome in the Octagon after the UFC decided they were better off without a 155-pound division. Fortunately good sense prevailed and Jens, like the division, was reinstated.

Little Evil was undefeated in the Octagon and his win over BJ Penn was a memorable battle. Now he looked to return to greatness and his ring entrance at UFC 63 looked more fitting for a war hero or a matador than a UFC combatant.

In his first UFC match, unknown Joe Lauzon admitted to taking Jens antics personally. He took out his anger on an unsuspecting Pulver with a brutal KO in the first round. Any thoughts of Jens walking to the title went out with the lights.

5. Chuck Liddell vs. Randy Couture: UFC 43
Appearing for the second time in my illustrious list is “The Natural” and this time it’s for upending the mighty Liddell at UFC 43. Chuck was 12-1 and on a torrid ten-fight winning streak looking as close to immortal as a fighter can get.

In contrast Randy was coming down from heavyweight after getting crushed by Josh Barnett and Ricco Rodriguez. Nearly 40, Randy was seen as not just a huge underdog, but also an aging combatant in a sport that long since passed him by (if they only knew).

For the second time Randy made the critics eat their words as he put an absolute clinic on the bewildered Liddell stopping him with strikes in the third round.

4. BJ Penn vs. Matt Hughes: UFC 46
Matt Hughes was a victory machine. Coming into the Penn fight Matt was 13-0 since 2001 and a staggering 34-3 overall. He was making it look easy and scoffed at the idea of BJ moving up in weight. After all, Penn was a mere pup compared to the welterweight workhorse and Hughes probably took things lightly.

He shouldn’t have. BJ tooled him from start to finish and choked Hughes into tapping in the first round. The look on Matt’s face perfectly summarized what we were all feeling: complete and utter disbelief. He didn’t even notice when the Hawaiian celebrated with a kiss. He was too busy trying to figure out what just happened.

3. Randy Couture vs. Tim Sylvia: UFC 68
After reading this list I wonder how I could have ever picked against Randy. But pick against him I did, as did most, when he came out of retirement to face the hulking menace from Camp Miletich.

Randy’s last dance in the Octagon was grotesquely one-sided, and his return to a weight class that chewed him up and spit him out in 2002 seemed ill-advised and money-driven. Few believed Randy when he claimed to have found a hole in Sylvia’s game and we quietly hoped he would get through the fight void of serious injury.

Once again we looked on in astonishment as Randy dropped The Maine-iac in the opening seconds of round one and continued to punish him throughout the fight. Tim summed it up best after dropping the decision: “He would strike when I thought he would shoot and shoot when I thought he would strike.”

Tim shouldn’t feel bad for having Randy make him look stupid. He’s been doing it to us for years.

2. Mirko Cro Cop vs. Gabriel Gonzaga: UFC 70
I’ll admit it. Part of what makes this upset come in at #2 is the way it ended. Aside from Randy Couture (who looks more and more like a genius with every move he makes) I don’t think anyone gave Gonzaga a real chance at winning.

People may have been open to a decision loss or a freak submission but if you wanted to lay odds on a head kick they would have laughed in your face. Well no one is laughing now as the artist formerly known as #2 in the world is back in Croatia licking his wounds.

Gonzaga was a talented fighter before the bout but his TKO loss to Croat associate Fabricio Werdum made it hard to believe he could withstand the strikes of Cro Cop. Mirko later admitted to having blurry vision courtesy of Gonzaga elbows and never saw it coming. Don’t worry Mr. Filipovic, neither did we.

1. Matt Serra vs. Georges St. Pierre: UFC 69
As if there was any doubt, I present the greatest upset in the UFC and perhaps all of mixed martial arts. Nobody in the world whose last name isn’t Serra gave Matt a chance against an opponent largely considered one of the best fighters in the world today.

With only a submission loss to Matt Hughes on his near-perfect record, GSP represented the new breed of MMA: Young, strong, and versed in all styles of combat fighting with very few weaknesses.

Of course a perfect skill set doesn’t do you any good if you get punched in the head. Serra did everything right, maintained composure, and finished off a rigid GSP in devastating fashion.

This is one win I don’t think even Randy could have predicted.

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

UFC 82 Location Revealed

At least PRIDE's 185 pound champion Dan Henderson won't have to suffer losing both his belts in the same calendar year. He'll get to do it early next year against Anderson Silva. Think it can't get worse for Hollywood? Think again. He gets the displeasure of taking on The Spider in what has become his personal home field -- Columbus, Ohio.

Not much to say here. The bout we all knew was going to take place still is, but it's in the place where Anderson Silva dominated hometown hero Rich Franklin. TWICE. If the crowd wasn't enough to boost their hometown favorite, Dan Henderson has no chance. Silva is only a -145 favorite right now, but expect that number to read -200 before the bell rings.

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Upcoming UFC Event Odds

It is well known that Las Vegas will put odds on just about anything, and so, it's no surprise that that within minutes of an any announcement, money lines are up. And while we won't explain how to read these lines (see FIGHT Magazine's Performify Foster for that), but we will tell you where we think the true values lie.

UFC 79:
Odds have changed away from their initial favoritism for Liddell, now favoring Silva at -130 or around 56%. Both have lost their last two fights and either could knock the other one out in the first round. Pick your favorite here and let the dice roll. I'll be staying away from this action, though...just a little too unpredictable for my blood. If you do want to bet on this one, however, you might want to go with Liddell. He'll win you more on what is being called an even match up and he's being picked to win by just about every professional fighter I talk to (Sean Sherk and Melvin Guillard included).

St. Pierre holds a sizable edge over Hughes (-240 to +190), but this seems accurate, considering the ease in which the former disposed of the latter in their previous battle. Take St. Pierre here. He's back from the Serra fight, his head is in order, and he's ALWAYS in shape. His -240 line is a representation of a 70% chance of winning this fight. I'd put him around 75-80%, making this a great value bet.

Now, for my money bet of the night. Machida holds the edge (-130) over Sokoudjou (even), but Sokoudjou is the more tested fighter. Yes, Machida has fought twice since Sokoudjou's last win in April, but that win was the second of two huge victories. Sokoudjou is simply the better fighter here and he's being given an underdogs line. Jump on this.

UFC 80:
Penn has St. Pierre-like odds in this one, holding a -260 advantage over Joe Stevenson (+200). Stevenson is good, but he's never seen anything like BJ Penn. Expect Penn to arrive early and hard for this title fight, showing why many consider him the best pound for pound fighter in the world.

UFC 81:
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira holds a large, undeserved lead over Tim Sylvia in the early betting (-250 to +200). Considering that Sylvia is rebounding from a big win over Brandon Vera, he's the top HW in the UFC (at least in my book). Couture is out, Cro Cop sucks, and Nogueira is untested. If I were forced to bet, I'd take Sylvia who I think will be surprisingly ready and in shape. He won't go down to the mat or anywhere near Nogueira's playground. He should, however, out strike the Brazilian to a decision win. The odds makers have only given him a 33% chance of winning, which I feel is too low for the veteran.

UFC 82:
Anderson Silva (-140) holds a small lead over Dan Henderson (+110). It's tough to call this one, as Silva is dominant and unpredictable, while Henderson hasn't been seen at this weight in quite some time. It's easy to quickly call this one for Silva, but we must not forget the ease in which Henderson tore through Wanderlei earlier this year. He's still one of the best Light Heavyweights, Middleweights, and P4Ps in the world. I'll probably put some money down on Anderson, but I'll be nervous until The Spider's hand is raised. He's been given a 58% chance of winning the fight, which is a little low for the man who has single-handedly dismantled the rest of the division.

Monday, December 24, 2007

Mayweather Considering A Move To MMA

The man who has most publicly derided the sport of MMA is considering trying his hand at the popular sport, of course, only if the money was right.

Check out our past articles on the topic:

April 12: "Mayweather: UFC Ain't Shit"
April 19: "Why Would He Go Home And Watch Basketball?"
May 23: "This Is Getting Out Of Hand"

Sherdog offers the following report on the possibility: Floyd Mayweather Jr. is discussing a deal with billionaire Mark Cuban that could put the best boxer on the planet in a mixed martial arts bout.

If an agreement is reached, Mayweather would join HDNet Fights, Cuban's fledgling MMA promotional arm, ESPN reported Friday.

"Floyd is considering fighting with HDNet Fights," Cuban told ESPN.com. "We are going to let him visit some gyms to talk to some folks about what it would take to learn. He knows it won't be easy. But he is getting involved with MMA and HDNet Fights one way or another. He is pumped about it. He wants to go on to the next big thing. Floyd is a brilliant marketer. He follows the money."

The undefeated Mayweather, a five-division world champion regarded as one of the purest pugilists in boxing history, stopped English challenger Ricky Hatton on Dec. 8 to retain his welterweight title.

Cuban and Mayweather, who struck up a friendship during the taping of ABC's "Dancing with the Stars," met Thursday in Las Vegas to discuss a possible role for the boxer with HDNet Fights.

According to ESPN.com, Leonard Ellerbe, a close Mayweather associate, said a move from the sweet science to MMA is something that seriously interests the boxer.

"When Floyd makes his move, obviously it's going to be a mega event," Ellerbe told ESPN. "We don't have a timetable. Floyd is taking some time off, but Floyd understands what is involved. You have to take time to go out and understand what you're getting involved in, and he's ready to do that."

Mayweather, 30, was part of two events in 2007 that generated 3.25 million pay-per-view buys and $200 million in revenue. A defeat of Oscar de la Hoya in May broke PPV records with 2.4 million subscriptions. In all, Mayweather made $50 million for his bouts with de la Hoya and Hatton.

"If I said there's a guaranteed $30 million payday, Floyd would be lacing them up," Cuban told ESPN.com. "If not, I could see him working to train and develop and invest in MMA fighters, knowing the upside. He can teach them how to be a better boxer and add to their other skills."

Should he decide to compete in MMA, Mayweather would immediately become the best boxer to test himself in that arena. Others such as Francois Botha, Art Jimmerson, Melton Bowen and James Warring fared poorly in their respective MMA efforts.

Mayweather would likely compete in MMA's 145-pound featherweight division, which is currently dominated by WEC champion Urijah Faber.

Sunday, December 23, 2007

2007 Year In Review

Here we go! With MMA gaining so much momentum over the past few years, UFC has debuted a three hour show of the UFC’s BEST of 2007,taking a look back at the most exciting fights of the past year. The UFC continues to be consistent by offering great PPVs, free events, and their blockbuster show, "The Ultimate Fighter." I will review the UFC’s BEST of 2007, giving you insight and my thoughts on the fights. Now let’s get to the knock down, drag out year that was 2007. An article by Don Davenport

Tyson Griffin vs. Frankie Edgar

UFC 67: ALL OR NOTHING February 3, 2007

Both fighters exchanged punches early, feeling each other out and eventually leading to a clinch. Edgar faked a takedown and landed some punches which lead to a takedown of Griffin. Griffin attempted a guillotine choke which Edgar managed to escape and gain side control. Griffin got out of side control and slammed Edgar down hard. Both fighters wrestled back to the feet where Edgar dominated with strikes, and then Edgar got a single leg takedown off of a Griffin knee into the guard. Edgar passed Griffin’s guard getting his back and both fighters ended up in the stand up position as the bell rang.

In the second round, Griffin landed a huge uppercut and trapped Edgar against the cage. Edgar defended this well and both fighters were back in the stand up position. Griffin was relentless throwing combinations at Edgar. Edgar caught a leg kick and took Griffin down. Griffin got back to his feet to land some punches, and dropped Edgar with a low kick. Edgar took Griffin back down for some ground and pound. Griffin scrambled on top and dragged him down, Edgar transitioned on top and pounded Griffin to the end of the round.

In the third round, Griffin landed some leg kicks and defended against an Edgar take down. Edgar counter punched then connected with three knees, one was low, but Griffin continued to fight. Edgar landed a flurry of punches then got Griffin’s back against the cage and hammered him. Griffin got to his feet and tried to defend against the vicious assault by Edgar and then got taken down. Griffin got back to his feet and looked exhausted. Edgar hit another take down. Edgar landed a series of blows as Griffin wrestled his way back to his feet. Edgar hit yet another takedown and got the back of Griffin, but Griffin reversed into a knee bar that was locked deep. Edgar hanged on to the end of the round. The winner by unanimous decision was Frankie Edgar.

This was a very technical fight that showed the versatility of both fighters. Edgar is a determined undefeated fighter that is destine for greatness.

UFC Welterweight Championship

Champion Georges St. Pierre vs. Matt Serra

UFC 69: SHOOTOUT April 7, 2007

The two fighters circled each other in the stand up position. Serra had difficulty getting through St. Pierre’s defense, being kept at bay with kicks and a long reach. Serra started to successfully attack the body of St. Pierre, jabbing his way inside. Half way into the round, the two fighters exchanged punches, with Serra getting the best of those exchanges. Serra blocked several high kicks by St. Pierre then landed a superman punch. Serra staggered St. Pierre with an over hand right, and then connected with a left that buckled St. Pierre. St. Pierre tried to hold on as Serra continued to punish him on the ground, but it was to no avail as the referee stopped the fight. The winner by TKO via strikes at 3:25 of the first round to win the UFC Welterweight Championship is none other than TUF 4 winner Matt Serra. Serra was an 11-1 underdog coming into this title fight and managed to pull off the upset. Serra displayed great head movement despite good offense by St. Pierre, eventually landing the right hand that spelled the beginning of the end for St. Pierre.

Roger Huerta vs. Leonard Garcia

UFC 69: SHOOTOUT April 7, 2007

Both fighters slugged it out to start things off. Huerta landed two high kicks and went for a takedown, and then Garcia applied a guillotine choke. Huerta escaped with Garcia against the cage, landing elbows and punches. Huerta transitioned to Garcia’s back then attempted the rear naked choke to no avail. Huerta got the mount position on Garcia. Garcia scrambled to his feet and connected with some punches. As Huerta went for a takedown he got caught with a guillotine but avoids submission. Huerta landsed elbows and punches from the top then kept Garcia against the cage for some ground and pound. Garcia worked back to the feet where both fighters wrestled to the ground. Garcia attempted a kimora on the right arm, but despite the attempt, both fighters were back on their feet exchanging blows. Huerta hit a take down which were followed up with a series of elbows and punches from the top. Garcia rolled into the top position as the bell rang.

Before the second, Huerta appeared to have a small cut over the right eye. Both fighters slugged it out, eventually clinching one another. Huerta took Garcia down for some ground and pound. Garcia got to his feet and landed a big knee to the face, both fighters went toe-to-toe for the next minute until Huerta got a takedown. Huerta dominated on the ground but Garcia made it to his feet again which he followed up with a huge right hand. Both fighters slugged it out some more until Huerta got another take down, and continued to land punches until the end of the round.

Early in the third round, Huerta overwhelmed Garcia with strikes and got him down to the ground. Huerta controlled Garcia on the ground but does minimum damage, and seemingly out of no where Garcia got Huerta’s back and is attempting a rear naked choke. Huerta escaped and rolled back on top, pounding Garcia relentlessly. Garcia took serious punishment but managed to hang on until the end of the fight. Both fighters embraced, showing mutual respect for each other. The winner by unanimous decision was Roger Huerta. It was a spectacular fight where the fans got their money’s worth. Garcia persevered through a ton of punishment despite Huerta's efforts to end the fight. I thought several times that Huerta was going to end the fight, but Garcia was able to hold on. Don’t be surprised to see Huerta receiving a title fight in the near future.

Mirko Cro Cop vs. Gabriel Gonzaga

UFC 70: NATIONS COLLIDE April 21, 2007

Gonzaga started off by pressuring Cro Cop, landing a straight right hand. Gonzaga threw a kick to the mid section of Cro Cop, which dropped him to the ground. Gonzaga controlled Cro Cop in the top position, landing elbows for the next two minutes. The ref stood the two fighters up, and out of nowhere Gonzaga threw a high kick and knocked out Cro Cop in such a way that his leg twists underneath him. The winner by KO, in 4:51 of the first round, Gabriel Gonzaga. The crowd was in disbelief that Cro Cop was defeated in such devastating fashion. Gonzaga shocked the MMA world by knocking out one of the most feared strikers on the planet with his very own signature move. Gonzaga would go on to face the UFC Heavyweight Champion Randy Couture. Cro Cop stated that he didn’t train for elbows or in the cage for this fight. Also, Cro Cop suffered a minor injury to his ankle. Cro Cop was a big international investment for the UFC, and so far, has turned out to be a total disappointment.

UFC Lightweight Championship

Champion Chuck Liddell vs. Quinton Jackson

UFC 71: Liddell vs. Jackson May 26, 2007

Liddell circled away from Jackson, picking his shots carefully. Finally, Liddell threw a big left hook to the body which is rolled under by Jackson. Jackson then answered with a right hand to the jaw that dropped Liddell immediately. Jackson hopped on top and finished Liddell with a series of right hands. The winner by TKO 1:53 of the first round and new UFC Lightweight Champion, Quinton Jackson. I thought that Jackson might win the bout from their previous encounter in PRIDE, but I did not fathom Jackson finishing Liddell in the first round.

Sam Stout vs.Spencer Fisher

UFC FIGHT NIGHT June 12, 2007

Stout came out swinging and is caught with a flurry of punches by Fisher. Fisher attempted a takedown that is defended by Stout. Fisher starts landing combinations at will on Stout, but Stout continued to press forward toward the second half of the round, landing punches and knees that bloody the right eye of Fisher. Both fighters started to slug it out, and then Fisher closed the round with a huge left hand.

In the second round, Spencer mixed up his combinations on Stout. Stout continued to come forward but is dominated with strikes by Fisher. Fisher attempted a take down and is defended by excellent grappling by Stout. The round closed with both fighters in the stand up position.

In the third round, Stout landed a combination and then got caught with a huge left hand. Fisher continued to dominate on the feet with left hands, and defended the combinations thrown by Stout. Fisher landed his strikes at will, rocking Stout with a right hand. Stout tried some offense while taking a severe beating from Fisher. Fisher landed a right hook to close the end of the fight. The winner by unanimous decision, Spencer Fisher. The fight was action-packed as expected, delivering a three round slug fest. I can only expect improvement from both fighters in the future of their careers.

Jens Pulver vs. B.J. Penn

THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER 5 FINALE June 23, 2007

Penn landed a right hand right that staggered Pulver to start the round. Penn pushed forward and took Pulver down against the cage. Penn picked Pulver off the ground and slammed him again into half guard, securing his body. Penn passed his guard and got into the mount and attempted an armbar. Pulver spinned out into a triangle by Penn who hammered him with elbows. Pulver postured out of the submission attempt into Penn’s guard. Pulver pushed Penn against the cage and followed up with a few elbows as Penn worked back to his feet. The fighters clinched and traded shots until the end of the round.

In the second round, Penn took Pulver down after eating a left hook, and eventually got into the mount position to land some punches to the face. Penn got the back of Pulver and secured the rear naked choke for the submission. The winner by submission, 3:12 of the second round, B.J.Penn. This two round fight is exciting to watch as both fighters were not too fond of each other. Penn came into this fight in shape and more determined then ever to close this chapter in his life. Unfortunately, Pulver was no match for Penn in this fight, succumbing quickly to the rear naked choke.

UFC Middleweight Championship

Champion Anderson Silva vs. Nate Marquardt

UFC 73: STACKED July 7, 2007

Both fighters started by feeling each other out, Marquardt threw a combination and gets countered with a right hand. Silva then attempted a flying knee that is caught by Marquardt who then got a single leg takedown. Marquardt did nothing to improve his position and the referee stood both fighters up. Silva connected with a left hand then Marquardt attempts a single leg, but despite his effort, he took several elbows and punches. Marquardt attempted a single leg again, but Silva switched on top and unleashed a series of devastating right hands, stopping the fight. The winner by TKO 4:50 of the first round and still UFC Middleweight Champion, Anderson Silva. Silva demonstrated once again why he is the UFC Middleweight Champion, displaying excellent striking and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Silva is a true MMA practitioner who showcases his elite skills every time he steps in the octagon.

Houston Alexander vs. Alessio Sakara

UFC 75: CHAMPION vs. CHAMPION September 8, 2007

Alexander closed the distance and Alessio took him down. Alexander pushed Alessio off with brute strength and connected with two knees to the head. Alexander then followed up with another knee to the head that dropped Alessio, and then Alexander finished the fight with a barrage of punches. The winner by KO 1:01 of the first round, Houston Alexander. Alexander is just ferocious in this fight showcasing his strength with every strike. Alexander gives fight fans what they come for and that is brutality. He needs improvement in different areas of his fight game, but I expect him to make the necessary adjustments and continue to lead a very successful MMA career.

Forrest Griffin vs. Mauricio Rua

UFC 76: KNOCKOUT September 22, 2007

Griffin connected with an inside leg kick, then Rua attempted a takedown that is defended successfully. Griffin got his back, but Rua rolled and Griffin was in the top position. Rua got back to his feet and both fighters exchanged blows. Rua got a takedown, but Griffin used an effective guard to avoid punishment and got back to his feet. Both fighters traded shots until Griffin took Rua down, eventually getting his back. Rua rolled with Griffin in the top position, following up with punches, eventually letting Rua back up to the feet. Griffin connected with a left hook, and then Rua shot for a takedown taking some punches before succeeding. Griffin sweeped and closed the round in the top position.

In the second round, Griffin used good head movement to connect with some body shots. Rua got a single leg take down then Griffin attempted a guillotine with no success. Rua cut Griffin with an elbow to the head. Griffin managed to get back to his feet, and Rua clinched Griffin to the cage. Griffin inside leg tripped Rua and got his back while connecting with punches. Rua got to his feet and attempted a takedown that is stopped by Griffin. Griffin delivered hammer fists to the side of Rua's head. Rua worked back to the feet and appeared to be fatigued, dropping his hands to his waist. Griffin defended several take down attempts by Rua, and ended up in half guard. Griffin maintained his position and turned it up, landing punches to close the round.

In the third round, Griffin stuck the jab and got taken down by Rua. Griffin attempted a triangle, but Rua avoided the submission attempt. Rua controlled Griffin on the ground then gets caught in an omoplata attempt. Griffin transitioned to the back of Rua. Griffin smothered Rua with knees to the body and hammer fists to the head. Rua tried to escape, but gives up his back to Griffin who continues the onslaught of punishment. Rua rolled and Griffin gets the top position, transitioning to the back of Rua again, and then applied a deep rear naked choke for the tap out! The winner by submission, 4:45 of the third round, Forrest Griffin. Griffin comes into his own in this fight, out hustling Rua to an eventual submission. Griffin stated that he asked Dana White for the fight against Rua. Rua was considered by many fight fans as one of the best Light Heavyweight fighters in MMA. This win has propelled Griffin’s career to securing a coaching opportunity on the “Ultimate Fighter” with Quinton Jackson.

After watching the UFC BEST OF 2007, I’m pleased to say it was worth my time, and it was a good enough event to be on PPV. The unpredictability of the fights is absolutely shocking. Gonzaga defeating Cro Cop, Jackson disposing of Liddell so quickly, and Griffin submitting Rua are classics that will go down in annals of UFC history. UFC is continuing to deliver the best mainstream MMA action in the world, and it is as entertaining then it is intriguing.

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Aoki-Calvancante Fight Taken Off M-1 Card

The highly anticipated match up between Shinya Aoki and JZ Calvancante, two IWF-ranked fighters, has been canceled, according to this Sherdog report. Don't fear, MMA fans! The card still features two IWF-ranked fighters in Gilbert Melendez (also #9 P4P) and Hayato Sakurai in separate fights.

It's still unclear as to why the fight has been taken off the card, although it's possible that recent surgery performed on JZ may be the case. As recently as December 5th, both fighters were still talking as though it was going to happen. Despite these conjectures, nothing has been confirmed.

The event still features, in addition to the Fedor-Choi laughstock, a collection of some of the brightest Lightweights and Welterweights in the world.

Gilbert Melendez and Hayato Sakurai will have more than their hands full when they meet Mitsuhiro Ishida and Hidehiko Hasegawa, respectively. In another interesting fight, formerly ranked Lightweight Tatsuya Kawajiri will look to rebound from a recent loss and gain his place back on our top ten.

Friday, December 21, 2007

Chuck Liddell Interview (Our Second)

Just a few short weeks before his super fight against Wanderlei Silva, Ben Zeidler caught up with former UFC light heavyweight champ Chuck Liddell this past week to get his story on the Keith Jardine loss, ask him about his training, and discuss his future in MMA. Originally conducted for MMA Madness

Ben Zeidler: Are you looking forward to the Wanderlei fight in order to show everyone that you’re back?

Chuck Liddell: Yeah, I can’t wait. I’ve been waiting for a long time for this fight and it’s what I need. It’s a big fight and it’s helping me to get excited. Hopefully, it’ll get me back into the picture, too.

BZ: How do you think that you'll do against Wanderlei?

CL: It’s going to be exciting. He likes to come after guys and I like it when people come after me. I think I’ll knock him out and I don’t expect it to go a long time, but when it’s going, it should be a good one.

BZ: Wanderlei hasn't fought in a cage in seven years. Do you think that he'll be able to adapt to the cage immediately, or will it take him some time?

CL: He’s been training in the cage for a while so I’m sure he’ll adapt. It’s really not a whole lot different from fighting in a ring. It’s a little harder to cut the ring off when you’re in a cage, but that’s about it. Other than that, there’s not too much difference.

BZ: What are you going to do differently from the Jardine and Rampage fights?

CL: You know, I’m just going to try to execute my game plan a little better. I’m not changing styles or doing anything crazy. I’m still the same fighter as I was before.

BZ: Is it true that you called Tony Robbins, known as the Success Guru, for help?

CL: I wouldn’t say that I called him.

BZ: Oh, he called you?

CL: He called. John [Hackleman] had used him before for training purposes. He’s just a really knowledgeable guy with a lot to say.

BZ: Can you tell us a little bit about the way your training regimen has changed with age?

CL: You definitely can’t do what you did when you were younger. You can’t just go right into full training. I used to start training hard six weeks before a fight but now it takes closer to 3 months to get fully ready. I try to stay in shape year round though, but the training is much harder.

BZ: Have you thought about life after fighting?

CL: You know, I’ve always said that I’ll cross that bridge once we get to it. As long as I keep getting fights, I’ll keep fighting.

BZ: Do you think you can ever be champion again? And if you beat Wanderlei, do you believe that you deserve a title shot?

CL: Of course I’d like a title shot, but we’ll see what happens after the fight.

BZ: Is there anyone in your sights after Wanderlei?

CL: No one in particular. They tell me who to fight and I just go out and fight.

BZ: What happened against Jardine?

CL: I didn’t perform as well as I should have. I kept the fight too close so I really can’t complain about the decision. I should’ve done lots of stuff differently, you know? It just wasn’t my fight.

BZ: But you do think that you won the fight, right?

CL: I left it [too] close to complain. I think that they counted some things against me that they shouldn’t have. They counted some things more than they should have. You know, I got in there and I thought that one of the judges looked at me weird, but I can’t complain. I left it too close.

BZ: Do you think you match up better against strikers or against grapplers?

CL: Honestly, I don’t care. I’m just happy to fight and I think I match up equally against both.

BZ: What's your opinion on Rampage Jackson and Forrest Griffin as coaches for TUF?

CL: It should be really entertaining. They’re both really funny guys.

BZ: Let’s do a few predictions for your UFC 79 event. How about Georges St. Pierre-Matt Hughes III?

CL: Matt is a buddy of mine. He’s going to put it together and win.

BZ: How about Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou vs. Lyoto Machida?

CL: You know, one of my guys knocked out Sokoudjou.

BZ: So you have him losing?

CL: No, I have him winning.

BZ: Who was it that beat him?

CL: Glover Teixeira.

BZ: Right.

CL: Anyway, he’s been out of the game a little with his contract problems but I think he’ll be fine.

BZ: Does the death of Sammy Vasquez affect you? For all the talk about fighters knowing the risks when they step in the ring, the risks really did not include death until now. Any thoughts?

CL: Does it affect me in that way? No. You know the risks in any sport when you go out there. Look at boxing -- it’s just one of those things. I had a buddy of mine teaching private boxing and he dropped dead in the ring. Another one of my buddies almost died on the mat. They had to defib[rillate] him right there and he isn’t like he used to be. These things happen and people do the best they can. The commission does everything they can. Sometimes, you just can’t avoid these things.

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Bisping To Make Middleweight Debut In March

Earlier this week, the UFC's Thomas Gerbasi announced that TUF 3 winner Michael Bisping would be dropping to his natural weight class following a less than stellar effort against Matt Hamill and a split decision loss to Rashad Evans.

UFC's Middleweight class is well known for being the least deep while controlled by the sport's most dominant champion. These contrasting truths make this an interesting decision on Bisping's part. On one hand, he will most likely be considered a Top 5 fighter in the division whereas among the 205 pounders, he wasn't among the Top 10. On the other hand, once he climbs the short ladder to a title shot, he'll have his ass handed to him by the most dominant UFC champion since Chuck Liddell.

Bisping elaborated on the move: “Even though I’ve never fought at middleweight, I’ve gone back and forth with the decision to go down pretty much my whole career. Even from my very first pro fight (April 2004), people were telling me that I was a little too small for the light heavies. But I kept winning and, at least before I stepped up to the UFC, I was winning easily so I didn’t really take much notice.”

He'll make that transition at a UFC event in March -- no word yet on whether this will be UFC 83 or a Fight Night event. Sherdog confirmed the announcement with this statement: "The Ultimate Fighter 3" winner's first opponent will be fellow TUF alumnus Charles McCarthy. Sources close to American Top Team confirmed to Sherdog.com that the fight will take place in London, England on March 8."

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Drew McFedries Interview

Irish Whip Fighting recently chatted with UFC middleweight Drew McFedries. He’s coming off of a huge KO win over Jordan Radev and is scheduled to fight Patrick Cote early next year. In this interview, McFedries gave IWF a look into the world of MMA training, booking, and fighting. Originally conducted for MMA Madness.

Irish Whip Fighting: How did you get started with the UFC?

McFedries: Really, I don’t know how I got in. I had been training at MFS [Miletich Fighting Systems] for years... I was just coming out of my battle with Crohn’s disease and I was helping Sam Hoger train for Rashad [Evans] at that point, and somehow I managed to get into pretty good shape. I had a local show which was for an extreme challenge or something. My manager said “Hey, you’re doing well, lets look for more fights.” I didn’t know he’d be looking into the UFC. I was doing fights for 600 bucks, you know? He says “I got a fight for you. The guy’s name is Allesio Sakara.” I was thinking “Why would he come to Iowa.” And that’s when he told me that it was for the UFC. I asked him if he was serious…I couldn’t believe it. Here’s the kicker: he called me 17 days out so I only got 14 or 15 days of training. [I] fought Sakara [and] won that fight and it was just a great experience. I’ve never had [a] thrill ride like that. I was lucky enough to train with guys who are really good and I was just helping guys get ready for fights but I got into such good shape and the UFC opportunity came up. When he told me I had that fight, I was only 195 so I just ate well and stayed under 205. In two weeks it really showed. I weighed in at 202 or 203 and it was great. I was eating at the weigh in!

IWF: What’s it like working with Pat Miletich?

McFedries: Yeah, it’s very interesting -- MMA is getting so big right now -- but when I started doing this it was in its bare bones stage. I would fight amateur fights -- two or three guys a night. They had tournaments back then and you didn’t know when your next fight was going to be. Back then, it was incredible to meet him [Miletich] and fall into a big syndicate. I didn’t realize how big it is, but it never dawned on me how big he is. He’s like a Michael Jordan of the sport and when I realized what I was getting involved with, I was like, wow this is huge and the knowledge base he has is incredible. We’re here in Iowa, and wrestling is real big so he has that down, his Jiu-Jitsu skills are great, he’s trained in Brazil and Asia. It’s crazy, we get these guys that are the hardcore Brazilians and Pat forgets that he knew things that they are showing him. You think you can out-strike him and you try and he takes you down and he gives you hell on the ground. Coming up with his own system, that’s his thing and he’s one of the first guys to train everything. Fighters think, “I’m a good striker, I’m gonna stick with that.” If you get outdone at what you’re good at, you’re gonna get hurt. I have my own spin off of some of the things he’s taught me. I love to be on top, ground-and-pound, and I like to box with them. I credit Pat for most of my stand-up. He trained the shit out of me for three years full time.

IWF: Talk to us about your big win over Jordan Radev. What did you do differently from the Martin Kampmann fight in order to prepare?

McFedries: I came off the Kampmann fight with a little sour taste in my mouth because I slapped him around and I won the stand-up fight. I saw him [Kampmann] three weeks ago and he said he didn’t remember me knocking him down. I blew my wad trying to KO him and that’s why I lost. I thought the ref would stand us up for sure. I did NOT want that to happen in the Radev fight so I really, really prepared my stand-up. I went overboard on punch output, business, [and] power -- I overdid it because if I do possibly get tired, I want my last shot to be a KO. We changed up some stuff last minute when we realized how short he was. With him being so short, the last thing I would do is take him down but we changed up my boxing for a short stance so my hands needed to be in the right place and it really paid off. The hook I hit him with it was a tight inside hook. But it was a hot shot. And we trained that shot all week. I threw it a little off balance but it was enough.

IWF: Would you ever want a rematch against Kampmann?

McFedries: I’ve never really looked back on any fight and said I want that fight again. I’ll do what I get paid [to do] but I’m not interested in the rematch. If for some reason I became a champ, I’d try to fulfill my losses but that’s [neither] here nor there.

IWF: Talk to us about the upcoming Patrick Cote fight. How are you preparing?

McFedries: I do what I have to do and I don’t really change anything. I don’t really care; I do my own thing. I’m a fighter that shows that. Some fighters say, “Oh, I want to end it in the second,” but not me. I’m gonna lay it out there in the first three minutes. People come to see a fight and I’ll give them a fight. I train hard and hopefully when I go out there and fight it shows I trained hard enough.

IWF: Where do you see yourself in five years?

McFedries: I actually have thought about it. If I can make it to 35, I would love to do MMA. I got two fights left on my contract, so I don’t know what Ill make of these next two fights. This is what I’ve been doing for 8 years, battling through diseases and infections and this is one constant and I don’t see why I couldn’t do it for five more years. Every guy’s dream is to have a title shot. I’m really hoping that if I beat Cote, they will give me a title shot. Other than that, I’d love to continue. Look at Evan Tanner. He just got re-signed. I know he’s been at Bodog and different places but he came back.

IWF: What would you call the biggest win of your career?

McFedries: I really don’t think I have one. I’ve had a lot of fights and most of my stuff was bar room stuff as a pro. I think I lost twice, to [Nate] Quarry and Kampmann. The other guys I fought didn’t make me compete for a win. I really believe that I could’ve beat Quarry if I was in better shape. Instead of certain fights, I’ll talk about training sessions and I go, “I can’t believe I did 8 rounds with Sylvia” and I can go all those rounds. At MFS, we got NFL guys, we got UFC guys, and when you got guys getting ready for fights and then you go to Sylvia, it’s like holy hell I can’t believe I made it through.

IWF: Who do you see as the top of the 185-pound division right now?

McFedries: Now that Rich is out of the picture, I know they resigned Tanner, so I think it will be him. I think they will build him up. He’s at a championship level all the time. I really can’t see anyone [else]. Anderson [Silva] is so good and most of the 185 [pounders] are run-of-the-mill. I kinda throw myself in that group. I think I have great stand-up. I wouldn’t be comfortable in the ring with Silva just because I don’t have the experience. But other than that, I could deal with it.

IWF: What about Dan Henderson?

McFedries: They’re making up these PRIDE guys to be the best thing around. I knew that Hendo could only beat Jackson with a good shot and a ground-and-pound -- that’s the only the way.

IWF: Can you talk about the steroid issue in MMA? Why are fighters taking them if they know they will get caught?

McFedries: The last thing I would ever do is something to get my sponsors to dump me or make my family think I’m a loser. I don’t know. There’s a lot of injury that goes on with the sport. These guys get torn ligaments or shoulders and they’re taking the chance that they might not get tested. Franca said that but the steroid he used was top of the line stuff. I really don’t know. The way MMA is set up, there’s not insurance or backing and these guys don’t have a choice but to fight. They will do whatever they have to do in order to win. They get to 30 years old and hit a rough spot, and don’t know if they can do it, and think they’ll wash it out. I really don’t know. A lot of these guys are feeding their family. I have heard that [if] you go win your fight, they hand you your check. Even if you get suspended, they don’t take your check.

IWF: Chuck Liddell vs. Wanderlei Silva?

McFedries: That’s tough but I’m a bigger fan of Wanderlei. He’ll win by TKO. He’ll stand him up and beat him all over. That’s just his style. He’s the “Axe Murderer”, man!

IWF: Matt Hughes vs. Georges St. Pierre? You’ve got to be a big Hughes fan.

McFedries: Definitely a Hughes fan. I say Hughes by submission I don’t know what submission but it will be a submission. He’s a very driven individual, he got his eyes on Georges, and he’s gonna beat him. Matt knows he has to win this fight so he will lay it to GSP. If he wants to, he will find a way to get you down. If Matt wants it, he will submit him.

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Chuck Liddell's Seven Defining Moments

What separates a champion from a contender, a star from an average Joe scraping out a few dollars here and there on the club fight circuit?

In a lot of ways it comes down to what a fighter does when faced with challenges that would make most crumble. And even though a fighter won’t always win in these situations, how he learns from adversity will shape who he eventually becomes.

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell is one of the sport’s legitimate superstars; what were the seven defining moments of his career?

An article by UFC's Thomas Gerbasi

1) Kevin Randleman – May 4, 2001 – UFC 31
Result – Liddell KO 1
When Liddell entered his bout with former heavyweight champion Kevin Randleman in Atlantic City, he was seen as a solid contender, but also one who was expected to be a stepping stone for ‘The Monster’, who was making his UFC debut at light heavyweight. Liddell had other plans, and there was no denying the fight ending power or quiet charisma of Liddell, who would hence be known simply as ‘The Iceman’. And this time it wasn’t just a catchy nickname; it was a warning of what Liddell could do to you if he landed cleanly – you were iced.

2) The Randy Couture Trilogy
June 6, 2003 – UFC 43
Result – Couture TKO 3
Two years after truly arriving on the scene with his win over Randleman, Liddell finally got his long awaited-title shot against ageless Randy Couture. Couture was undoubtedly the real deal, but to many, the coronation of a new king from San Luis Obispo, California appeared to be a mere formality. Not so, as Couture grounded and pounded him out in round three. It was a costly lesson for ‘The Iceman’, who learned never to read your press clippings and enter a bout overconfident.

April 16, 2005 – UFC 52
Result – Liddell KO 1
It was fast – only 2:06 – but in winning the UFC light heavyweight title after close to seven years in the fight game, Liddell finally had the validation all fighters hope to one day get. Sure he says all the right things and insists that he would fight even without the belt on the line, but at the end of the day, every fighter wants to be a champion, and Liddell finally got to the top, and by knockout against a fighter who stopped him no less. That’s redemption.

February 4, 2006 – UFC 57
Result – Liddell KO 2
A bout overshadowed by the post-fight retirement by the legendary Couture, Liddell’s knockout win over ‘The Natural’ not only put a definitive stamp on the UFC’s first great trilogy (in the Iceman’s favor), but it became a true changing of the guard for the organization and Liddell, who became not only the biggest star in mixed martial arts, but also one that transcended the sport into the realm of mainstream acceptance. In other words, whether you’re a fan of MMA or not, when Chuck Liddell fights, you’ll find a way to check it out.

3) Bad Blood with Tito Ortiz
April 2, 2004 – UFC 47
Result – Liddell KO 2
If Chuck Liddell never wins another mixed martial arts match, he’ll always be remembered for this bout – a one-sided beatdown of his former buddy Ortiz - which was one of the sport’s most anticipated fights, even with the dilution of both fighters having lost to Couture. In the process, he showed an ability to not only handle his business inside the Octagon, but outside of it, as he became a much-requested interviewee among the media in the weeks leading up to the bout, and in the over three years since.

December 30, 2006 – UFC 66
Result – Liddell TKO3
Despite the one-sided nature of bout number one, by the time the rematch was signed, the entire MMA world was eager to see if Ortiz could reverse the result the second time around. He couldn’t, but in defeat Ortiz showed a ton of heart and he even made it to the third round. But Liddell’s ability to keep his rival on the end of his punches made it impossible for Ortiz to implement his gameplan. But given Liddell’s performance, no one expected that he would be winless since that fight.

4) Vernon White – August 21, 2004 – UFC 49
Result – Liddell KO 1
Beating someone you chased for a couple of years has to be a high most of us never could experience. Fighting off the inevitable letdown of such a win has to be even tougher. That was what Liddell faced in his first post-Ortiz fight against the always tough Vernon White, who helped motivate his foe with plenty of pre-fight trash talk. What resulted was four minutes and five seconds of war, with Liddell showing not only his punching power (which resulted in a KO victory), but a solid beard, which allowed him to take White’s bombs and continue firing. The only thing left was to get that title belt.

5) Jeremy Horn II – August 20, 2005 – UFC 54
Result – Liddell TKO 4
Most fighters will tell you that it’s harder to keep the title than to win it. Well, Liddell got no easy mark in his first 205-pound title defense when he faced the first man to beat him, Jeremy Horn. But despite their history and Horn’s pedigree, the fight wasn’t even close as Liddell slowly and methodically broke down Horn’s defenses and stuffed any semblance of offense from the over 100-fight veteran.

6) Rough Nights with “Rampage” Jackson
November 9, 2003 – PRIDE Final Conflict
Result – Jackson TKO 2
Sent to Japan’s PRIDE organization to compete in their Grand Prix tournament with the ultimate goal being a bout with Wanderlei Silva, Liddell instead ran into a brick wall with fellow American Quinton Jackson, who took some of Liddell’s best punches flush on the jaw and kept coming, eventually putting Liddell on his back in the second round and finishing him off. It was Liddell’s second loss in two fights, but he would go on to win seven in a row and become the most dominant 205-pounder in the game.

May 26, 2007 – UFC 71
Result – Jackson TKO 1
The rematch with Jackson may have been the most anticipated fight in recent history, and it came at a time when Liddell was bigger than ever, with an ESPN magazine cover and an appearance on HBO’s Entourage series. But a right to the jaw by Jackson in the first round stopped Liddell’s roll in emphatic fashion and moved him from champion to contender in just 1:53. It was a huge upset in the mind of the mainstream, but not to the hardcore, who now just assumed that the talented Jackson had Liddell’s number, just like Liddell had Ortiz’.

7) Keith Jardine – September 22, 2007 – UFC 76
Result – Jardine W3
Now this one was a shock to everybody, mainly because Jardine was coming off a first round TKO loss himself to Houston Alexander on the same night Liddell was stopped by Jackson. But from the opening bell, Liddell didn’t fight his usual counter striking fight. Instead, he walked right at Jardine, presumably in the hopes of scoring a spectacular early knockout. But Jardine hung tough, used his kicks to great effect, and pounded out the three round split decision. Was this loss an omen of things to come for Liddell, or does the Iceman need suitable motivation to get back in the win column and move back towards a title shot – something like a Wanderlei Silva fight? We’ll see on December 29th.

Monday, December 17, 2007

Georges St. Pierre Interview

Irish Whip Fighting writer Ben Zeidler caught up with former UFC welterweight champ Georges St. Pierre last week, discussing everything from the Matt Serra loss to the upcoming UFC 79 fight with Matt Hughes. Originally conducted for MMA Madness.

Irish Whip Fighting: Can you tell us a little bit about the Serra fight and what happened?

St. Pierre: You know, it was a great learning experience. I didn’t realize it when he hit me and next thing I knew, he was on top of me and it was over.

IWF: Was he what you prepared for?

St. Pierre: I don’t want to make any excuses. I made many mistakes coming into the fight but the real reason I lost is because Matt fought the better fight.

IWF: How would you fight him differently next time?

St. Pierre: I would change a lot of things. I’m working on my game like it’s a puzzle and it is all coming together. My personal life is going well, I’m in great shape. It will be a different story.

IWF: Your first fight against Matt Hughes saw you tapping out to an arm bar with one second left on the clock. Were you not aware of the time left on the clock?

St. Pierre: I knew how much time was left but I preferred to tap and not break my arm than try to fight the next round with a damaged arm. It was better to tap and not have it broken.

IWF: What changed between your first and second Hughes fights? From our end, your confidence looked as if it was through the roof.

St. Pierre: Exactly. I knew I could beat him in the second fight. I was not seeing him as an idol anymore and it made the whole difference. I had more skill and more experience.

IWF: Why did you decide to take the UFC 79 fight with Hughes?

St. Pierre: I feel privileged to have this fight and I wish nobody bad luck, but Serra got hurt and I’m able to step in. I’m already in unbelievable shape and I decided that it would be worth it to step up and take this shot.

IWF: What do you gain from taking this fight given that you were already in line for the next title shot?

St. Pierre: What I gain is that I can beat Hughes and show I’m the best in the world, and then I’ll get Serra. I was going to fight both of them eventually but now it’s just in a different order. After Hughes, I will get my revenge on Serra. It is the perfect scenario for me.

IWF: How long are your typical training camps? Will five weeks be enough to prepare?

St. Pierre: I’m never off season, really; I’m always in shape. Normally, I train for eight weeks but I was already in great shape so it won’t change anything that I would normally do. I think I’ll be a much better fighter than the last time I fought Hughes.

IWF: What are you doing to prepare for Hughes?

St. Pierre: With Hughes, he’s going to be a different fighter from last time and so am I. I know his strengths, his weaknesses, and I will come into that fight with something extra. You know how when you play cards, you don’t want to show your hand? I have a very good game plan.

IWF: You once said that you'll only fight at 100%. Do you really mean this? And, what if you get injured in the next few weeks? Will you pull out like you have in the past or honor your commitment?

St. Pierre: If I get an injury, I will put out. Even if it is a mental issue like there is a death in my family. I will never fight again not at 100%. I want to be the best every time I come out.

IWF: Are you in top shape for this fight? Do you think that there would be anything that would physically hinder your chances of winning?

St. Pierre: Yes, I am. I was always in great, great shape. I’ve been working with [Rashad] Evans to help him get ready for [Michael] Bisping. I’ve been doing work with boxers for their fights and helping wrestlers who are going to the Olympics. We all peak at the same time and it’s great. I decided to jump in and fight like they are.

IWF: What is your opinion on Matt Serra canceling the fight?

St. Pierre: I think if he got hurt, he made the right call. I think it would be a mistake to take the fight. He needs to figure out how bad the injury is. He’s a great fighter in great shape -- he’ll come back fast.

IWF: What do you think about Dana White's decision to have an interim belt?

St. Pierre: That’s awesome. According to me, I am a champion and Hughes is a champion. We just have to know who is the better champion. I’m glad it is five rounds and it is for a title. It is the best scenario for me.

IWF: Do you think you deserved a rematch with Serra before Hughes got a shot against him?

St. Pierre: No, Hughes deserved the rematch. He was still on top -- he just lost to me. He’s still on top I think and you know the scenario is perfect now. He’s a great fighter and maybe the best pound-for-pound in the world. It’s a great honor to face him.

IWF: Did you call Dana White personally to request the fight?

St. Pierre: I called my manager [and] I said I wanted it and she called UFC. They called her back and said it was a done deal.

IWF: What did you do to get so mentally prepared before the Josh Koscheck fight? What did you change compared to your preparation for the Matt Serra title defense?

St. Pierre: I fixed my personal life. I put back the puzzle all together and I don’t have any injuries -- right now everything is cool. I’m the happiest man on earth. It’s behind me and I look up to the future.

IWF: Would you call this UFC 79 card the biggest in MMA history?

St. Pierre: It’s the biggest fight of my career. I don’t know about them but for me it’s the biggest fight.

IWF: If you defeat Hughes and Serra down the road, who would you want next?

St. Pierre: I don’t know what they’ll do. I don’t always get the best fighter. I don’t know because things change and we’ll have to see what MMA is like then.

IWF: Any words for Matt Hughes?

St. Pierre: I haven’t heard anything, so I’m not going to comment. I’m focused on myself and what I have control over and that’s me. [Laughs]

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Couture Expects To Fight Fedor In October 2008

Despite whispers that Couture might take on Nogueira sometime early next year, it looks as though he will wait for his contract to expire and then hope for a match up with who many believe is the top fighter on the planet, Fedor Emelianenko. MMA News brings us more...

During an interview on the HDNet Fights' "Reckless Abandon" broadcast this past Saturday night on the HDNet cable channel, former multiple time UFC champion Randy Couture was interviewed about his latest plans for the future of his career in mixed-martial arts fighting competition.

Couture went on to speak about the resignation and all that good stuff we've heard before, but also confirmed that when his contract expires in the upcoming summer, he'll be looking to secure the long-anticipated bout with Heavyweight king-pin Fedor Emelianenko. Couture specifically cited October as the likely month that something could be put together.

The MMA world waits!

Window Of Opportunity For St. Pierre, Hughes

Matt Hughes and Georges St. Pierre gained a unique window of opportunity for the Welterweight Championship when Matt Serra suffered a training injury to his lower back. I.W.F made the correct prediction for UFC President Dana White to schedule Hughes-St. Pierre III rubber match, giving both men the opportunity to end the trilogy and win the championship. Hughes-St. Pierre III will be an explosive battle with contrasting styles -- it's a battle which has resulted in a different outcome each time. At UFC 50, Hughes defeated St. Pierre in the first round with a slick armbar submission to win the vacant Welterweight Championship. At UFC 65, St. Pierre defeated Hughes in the second round with a brutal and decisive TKO. In this, the finale, which fighter will execute their game plan better? An IWF original by Don Davenport

Hughes stated on "The Ultimate Fighter Finale" that "I would not have taken this fight unless I thought I was going to win. I have enough time to prepare for Georges fighting style, and Georges is taking this fight four weeks in, when he likes to take three months off to prepare for a fight." Hughes a two-time Division I All-American wrestler who will come in phenomenal shape, and despite his wrestling and submission background, Hughes will be working heavily on his striking. Hughes appears to be very confident and ready to reclaim the Welterweight Championship.

Meanwhile, St. Pierre, taking this fight on short notice, is the fighter with the most to gain in this contest. St. Pierre owns the last victory over Hughes, and proved that he is a determined fighter with his recent victory over Josh Koscheck at UFC 74. St. Pierre is a good striker and submission expert, but is often over looked for his equally excellent wrestling capabilities. St. Pierre showed those skills by out wrestling Koscheck, with great takedown defense and maintaining the top position almost through the entire fight. St. Pierre must see defining flaws in Hughes' fighting style to take this fight on short notice.

My analysis is that St. Pierre will prevent Hughes takedown attempts and dominate the fight on the feet leading to another TKO victory. St. Pierre has vastly improved since UFC 50 and has the necessary skills to stop Hughes' takedowns. Not many fighters can stop Hughes wrestling superiority, but St. Pierre is one who has shown he is capable. In order for Hughes to pull out the victory, he has to be the aggressor in the stand up position, and take the fight to the ground where he is most effective. The title scene is about to change and give one of these contenders the window of opportunity to win the coveted UFC Welterweight Championship.

HDNet: Reckless Abandon Results

In an exciting night of fights for HDNet, Mayhem Miller avoided upset in his win over Tim Kennedy and Frank Trigg won his bout in a most unusual way.

Jason Miller def. Tim Kennedy via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Frank Trigg def. Edwin Dewees via submission (kimura) — Round 1, 1:40
Yves Edwards def. Alonzo Martines via submission (rear-naked choke) — Round 2, 3:04
Krzysztof Soszynski def. Robert Villegas via DQ — Round 2, 3:15
Pete Spratt def. Tristan Yunker via TKO (cut) — Round 1, 1:38
Cory Mahon def. Chris Bowles via submission (arm bar) — Round 2, 4:20
Nissen Osterneck def. Freddie Espiricueta via submission (strikes) — Round 1, 2:30
Jay White def. Patrick Castillo via submission (arm bar) — Round 1, 0:50
Liam McCarty def. Jason House via TKO (cut) — Round 3, 5:00
Marcus Lanier def. Ray King via submission (arm bar) — Round 2, 2:58

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