This fight would probably draw a ton of attention, as the name recognition of both fighters may be higher than ever. Yes, Chuck Liddell has lost 3 of his last 4 fights. However, he's still probably the most recognizable name in MMA. People will tune in.
Where does this put Anderson Silva? Reports say that he may face one of the losers of the big UFC 92 LHW fights, Forrest Griffin-Rashad Evans or Quinton Jackson-Wanderlei Silva.
Whatever happens, the UFC is doing a great job with keeping these cards exciting. Just when you think that they run out of ideas they come out with unbelievable dream fights. I'm not by any means saying that Liddell-Couture IV would be a dream fight. There is only so much that you can milk a rivalry. With both fighters out of their prime and the fact that this would be their fourth meeting, this fight doesn't excite me as much as Anderson Silva-Liddell does.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Liddell-Couture IV?
Sunday, November 16, 2008
UFC 91 Reaction
However, I think that Brock beating Randy is much better for the UFC and for MMA. Is this not a perfect “passing of the torch” moment? Brock Lesnar is unbelievably marketable. Much more so than Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Frank Mir, or even Randy Couture. That factor is usually overlooked. Marketability is key to a sport’s and a company’s success. For instance, look at Kimbo Slice. He’s terrible. However, he is probably the most famous mixed-martial-artist in the world.
Brock Lesnar is legitimately good. He’s not just some 280-pound animal that mauls everybody…well actually, he is…but he’s much more than that. His wrestling is dominant, his striking is improving every day, and his work ethic is insane. He’s the first one to the gym every day and the last one to leave. He’s got a hunger for learning and he’s a fast learner, which is a scary combination. His combination of size and speed is unparalleled in the world of fighting. Brock Lesnar has proved that he’s legit and that he’ll be around for quite awhile.
Where does Randy go from here? He probably fights the loser of Nogueira-Mir. There shouldn’t be any talk of Fedor vs. Randy unless Couture is the champion.
Kenny Florian put on a dominating performance against Joe Stevenson. With the way that Florian was dominating the stand-up I was very surprised when he took Stevenson to the ground. Florian looked better than ever on his feat, getting in and getting out with minimal damage done to himself. However, it was when he took it to the ground that he put on a clinic. His mount of Stevenson looked effortless, as did the resulting rear naked choke. Florian is much improved since his last title shot and I think that he could give BJ Penn some major problems.
In two great shows of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills, Dustin Hazelett and Demian Maia moved their way up the ladder of their respective weight classes. Fans were treated to a beautiful transition from an omoplata to straight armbar in another videogame-like submission courtesy of the newly crowned Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu blackbelt, Dustin Hazelett. Hazelett’s armbar broke Demian Maia’s 3-fight “submission of the night” streak. However, Maia’s performance was more impressive. Maia took down Quarry, mounted him, got his back and choked him out in just over 2 minutes. He is the best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter in MMA and he needs to fight either Michael Bisping, Rich Franklin, or Dan Henderson next.
Gabriel Gonzaga knocked out the UFC rookie Josh Hendricks in 1:01 in what seemed like a “business as usual” fight for the heavy-handed heavyweight. It was an absolutely dominating striking performance by the Brazilian. I’d like to see Gonzaga’s next fight be the winner of Cheick Kongo vs. Mustafa Al-Turk.
UFC 91 Quick Results
MAIN CARD:
Demian Maia def. Nate Quarry via submission– 2:13, Round 1
Gabriel Gonzaga def. Josh Hendricks via TKO–1:01, Round 1
Dustin Hazelett def. Tamdan McCrory via submission 3:59, Round 1
Kenny Florian def. Joe Stevenson via submission 4:03 Round 1
Brock Lesnar def. Randy Couture via TKO 3:07 Round 2
PRELIMINARY CARD:
Matt Brown def. Ryan Thomas via submission– 0:57, Round 2
Mark Bocek def. Alvin Robinson via submission — 3:16, Round 3
Jeremy Stephens def. Rafael dos Anjos via TKO –:39, Round 3
Aaron Riley def. Jorge Gurgel via unanimous decision
Friday, November 14, 2008
UFC 91 Quick Picks
UFC 91 Quick Picks, after the jump.
Couture via unanimous decision
Florian via submission
Hendricks via KO/TKO
Maia via submission
Hazelett via unanimous decision
Gurgel via unanimous decision
Dos Anjos via KO/TKO
Robinson via KO/TKO
Brown via submission
Thursday, November 13, 2008
UFC 91 Preview
Martial Base comes to us with an excellent preview of UFC 91. Click to read the story after the jump.
The fight between Hall Of Famer Randy Couture and relatively-green Brock Lesnar combines numerous storylines that are sure to pull in all types of MMA fans, hardcore and casual. For Couture, this fight means everything. He has tons to lose: his legacy, his world title, his standing in the UFC. If he wins, it means relatively nothing for his storied MMA career. Despite what the odds might tell you (they are even), this is Couture's fight to win. Yes, his wrestling will now be matched by a younger, stronger, and purer wrestler, but Randy is expected to win this fight.
Cut to Brock Lesnar, to whom this fight means everything. But unlike Randy's quest, which begins with him sitting proudly atop the division, Lesnar has everything to gain. If he loses the fight, who can fault him? Three fights in the UFC and already he's taking on one of the greatest champions of all time. This is the benefit of facing top-flight competition. If you lose, it's no big deal. If you win, it could mean the world. And if Lesnar wins at UFC 91, it will be mean the culmination of his blossoming career. He will have become a champion in less than three bouts, he will have dethroned Couture, and he most likely will have etched a permanent place in UFC history. Need any hint as to who the UFC is rooting for? Just check out Dana White's recent stint on CNBC. Or take a look at who has been included in the first set of UFC action figures. Brock's the answer to both questions, and he is the UFC's future. Once a Kimbo-esque renegade, Lesnar has truly transformed into something worth writing home about.
On November 15, 2008, fans should be treated to one of the greater wrestling spectaculars of all time. The UFC media machine will be pumping hard to get this one the largest gate of all time, and if you'd like to suggest they won't, be my guest. I won't buy anything less than an attendance record.
I expect to see Lesnar work Couture over early, winning the first two rounds with his size and strength. By the third, though, I think you'll see Couture figuring out just how to beat Lesnar. His experience should come into play in this bout as Couture will adapt his plan to Lesnar's particular strategy. I have it tied 38-38 going into the final round, and that's as far as I'm comfortable predicting on this one. The old adage is to never bet against Randy Couture and while I'm tempted to buy that yet again, Couture's never seen anything like Brock Lesnar.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Ten Greatest UFC Upsets
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.
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.
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!
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Couture Healing, Nogueira Offer Still On Table
According to MMAWeekly.com, still-champ Randy Couture is back to training following the broken arm he suffered at UFC 74. No word on whether or not he's accepted the Nogueira offer, but according to White, it remains on the table.
This, from MMAWeekly.com:
"I'm training again. It's not 100%, but it's good," said the current UFC heavyweight champion. “I just had it x-rayed again. I think in a couple of weeks it will be cleared 100%."
He added, "It feels a little strange in certain places, but overall it's good."
Couture's acting career has taken off, but it most likely hampered the healing process. He commented, "It would have healed faster I think if I allowed them to put a cast on it. With the acting gig, I couldn’t be walking around ‘The Unit’ and ‘Scorpion King’ with a cast."
Despite still being recognized as the UFC heavyweight champion, Couture – ranked as the No. 4 heavyweight in the world by MMAWeekly.com – is currently in the midst of determining his future, both with the company, and in the sport in general.
He submitted his resignation from the UFC, both as a fighter and in other capacities, in early October, saying, “I’m tired of swimming upstream at this stage with the management of the UFC.”
A very public war of words has ensued since his resignation with both Couture and the UFC holding separate press conferences to detail their respective sides of the situation.
Couture since has reportedly been offered a title defense against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
White's Reaction Could Determine MMA's Future
In this new column by Yahoo! Sports' Kevin Iole, White's role in rebounding from losing its name-brand fighters is discussed in a clearer manner than ever before.
Dana White may be the man most responsible for the meteoric growth of the UFC. It has a national television contract, it does ever-larger pay-per-view sales, it routinely sells out major venues and it has one of the most passionate fan bases in sports.
Much of that is due to White's grit, guile and cunning.
But White, the UFC president, has a challenge before him, the likes of which he has never faced in his seven years at the helm of the world's most successful mixed martial arts promotional company.
Though White hardly seemed upset by UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture's announcement Thursday that he is retiring as a professional fighter and severing all ties with the company, how he handles the situation will determine whether the company will continue its rocket-like ascent toward mainstream acceptance or whether it will return to the netherworld of niche sports status.
Couture quit for the same reason that No. 1 NFL draft pick JaMarcus Russell didn't sign with the Raiders until after the regular season began, for the reason why Alex Rodriguez is probably going to opt out of his contract with the Yankees: Money.
The UFC has played hardball with its fighters for so long because it has been the only game in town. And, despite the emergence of a slew of promotions like the International Fight League, Elite XC, Strikeforce and, new this week, M-1 Mix Fight, it remains the only viable alternative for most fighters.
It has the most money, the most fans and the best fighters under contract. If you're a fighter and you're looking to increase your exposure and your bankroll, you sign with the UFC.
Couture's sudden retirement changes the dynamic remarkably.
Former light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell, who according to White is the company's highest-paid fighter, has lost two straight and has conceded that thoughts of retirement have wafted through his head.
Couture, whom White said was his second-highest paid fighter, retired on Thursday.
Matt Hughes, who fights Matt Serra for the welterweight title on Dec. 29, has said on The Ultimate Fighter reality show on Spike TV that he's only going to fight two or three more times before quitting.
Rich Franklin will lose a lot of his luster as a drawing card if he gets manhandled again by Anderson Silva when they meet for the middleweight title at UFC 77 on Oct. 20.
Tito Ortiz, who is down to one fight left on his UFC contract, is nowhere near the invincible force he seemed about five years ago.
And for as many great athletes who dot the UFC's roster of talent, none, with the possible exception of light heavyweight Forrest Griffin, have the capability of filling an arena like Couture and Liddell did.
White blamed what's becoming his personal whipping boy – MMA web sites and forums – for spreading phony rumors about fighter pay. Couture, who is in South Africa filming a movie and couldn't be reached for comment Thursday, released a statement in which he said he was retiring because the UFC didn't sign Fedor Emelianenko and no other fight mattered to him.
He also said he was upset with UFC management for what he believed was low pay. He made that point in a breakfast meeting last month with White and UFC owner Lorenzo Fertitta.
"He felt he was not getting paid as much as Mirko Cro Cop, as much as this guy and as much as that guy," White said. "We told him he was our second-highest paid fighter, but he didn't believe us. Chuck's the only guy who makes more, but he kept hearing all these rumors and he wouldn't believe us."
White then launched into a tirade against what he called "the rumor mongerers on the Internet," whom he said are, "the lowest of the low."
He said fighters read those sites and believe them to be true, causing friction at the negotiating table.
"This business is like a beauty salon," he said. "These guys are all the toughest guys in the world, but they're like (expletives) in a beauty salon. They pass along rumors and gossip, which has no basis in reality and they believe all the (rumors) they hear. The Internet is very powerful and one of the best promotional tools we have, but it's a crazy place.
"They hear these rumors and they believe them and then they get insulted like (expletives) after we try to talk reality with them. They'll say, 'Well, this guy is getting this much,' but when I ask where they heard it, it's never a contract, it's always, 'I read it on the Internet.' It's crazy."
The Yankees won the World Series after Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and Reggie Jackson retired. The Lakers won NBA titles after Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson quit.
There is plenty of precedent in sports for teams and organizations succeeding after losing their biggest stars.
But those were established teams in established leagues with long records of success. MMA as we know it has only existed since 1993. And as recently as less than three years ago, few mainstream media paid it any mind.
Griffin and Stephan Bonnar helped change that with a slugfest in the finale of the first season of The Ultimate Fighter on Spike TV that was the equal of any held in boxing.
With a reach of 90 million homes, a fight which was like MMA's equivalent of the legendary Marvin Hagler-Thomas Hearns middleweight title brawl, forced a lot of people to begin tuning in.
There have been few bumps in the 30 months since that epic battle.
But if you believe – yep, Internet reports – then White has two major bumps he must hurdle. Several web sites have reported that Emelianenko has signed with a Russian promoter called M-1 Mix Fight.
White, who has been negotiating feverishly for the last six months in a bid to sign Emelianenko and match him with Couture, wasn't sure if the reports are true.
He demeaned Emelianenko, who is ranked No. 1 in the Y! Sports MMA poll, as a fighter, saying Couture would destroy him, and said Emelianenko's representatives were nearly impossible to work with.
"The negotiations with those guys were so nutty, that at this point, I don't give (an expletive) if he ever comes with us," White said. "If there were real rankings out there, he wouldn't be the No. 1 fighter in the world, believe me.
"Randy Couture is the top heavyweight. He's proven it. He's fought real guys. Who has this guy fought? Mark Coleman and Matt Lindland, who weighs 185 pounds. He's (an expletive) middleweight. My philosophy has always been to sign the best guys and make them fight, but you see that this guy didn't want to fight the best because he was impossible to deal with."
If Emelianenko had signed with the UFC and then subsequently defeated Couture, he would have been Couture's obvious successor as a drawing card.
On the other hand, had Couture, as White predicts, destroyed Emelianenko, it would have exponentially improved Couture's drawing power for as long as he wanted to stay around. Now, White is forced to find replacements for two high-level talents.
White isn't the coolest guy in the world, but he plays one on TV and he tried to pass off Couture's decision as one of those things that happen in the fight game.
"No matter how great they are, fighters come and go, but it's the sport that survives," White said. "Randy Couture retired once before and we didn't collapse, did we? I love Randy Couture and what he represented.
"He's a great guy and was a bad dude in that octagon. He's the kind of guy I want to associate my company with, but I also know that as a fighter, he wouldn't be around forever no matter what. We'll survive. This is just another day in my life. Believe me, as much as I would like to be promoting another Couture fight, it's not the news that is going to kill the UFC."
White is going to need all his cunning and guile to survive this one, though.
He said Thursday he's not certain he's going to go ahead with the long-rumored Liddell-Wanderlei Silva fight as the main event of UFC 79 on Dec. 29 and said he may just headline that card with Hughes challenging Matt Serra for the welterweight title.
In part, that could be a way for White to make up for the loss of a Couture-Emelianenko fight at UFC 80 on Feb. 2. He can slide Liddell-Silva into that slot as the main event on one of the biggest MMA weekends of the year and hope that the fight captures the public's imagination.
But until those drawing cards emerge to replace Couture, Liddell and Hughes, it's going to be difficult for the UFC to escape niche status and convince the Fortune 100 companies it craves as sponsors that it has reached the mainstream.
It's going to be White's greatest challenge yet.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
RANDY COUTURE RETIRES
Retiring and thus vacating his title belt, Randy "The Natural" Couture has retired once again. His decision appears to have been affected by the UFC's inability to sign Fedor.
Statement from Dana White:"I'm not surprised at all by Randy’s decision. I talked to Randy several weeks ago and hesaid that if he couldn’t fight Fedor, then he has nothing left to prove in the sport of mixed martial arts. He has been doing a lot of acting, and I know he is in South Africa right now filming a movie. I think it’s a great move for Randy’s acting career to retire from fighting while he is on top. As we all know, Randy retired before. The landscape in MMA changes every day. So when he is ready to come out of retirement again, he is still under contract with me, and I’m ready to promote him."
Clearly, Dana doesn't believe that Couture will stay retired, but I have to say that I think it's for real this time. He literally has nothing else to prove, and beating Vera or Sylvia isn't going to further cement his status as one of the greatest of all time.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Nogueira-Kongo Bumped To Early 08
The winner of the Nogueira-Kongo fight is no longer in line for a title shot, as it's been bumped to early next year, but whoever leaves victorious should be guaranteed a shot down the line. Here's why:
With Sylvia-Vera now the only real HW bout in the upcoming months, it's more than expected that the winner will take on Randy Couture early next year at UFC 81 or those whereabouts. For Vera, it would be a long time coming and could represent the passing of the torch from one marketable HW to another. If Sylvia gets the shot, it would represent the rematch clause in his contract. Either way, this seems like the only viable option.
But who gets the winner of the Couture-Vera/Sylvia fight? For rest periods to coincide, the new #1 contender bout (after Sylvia-Vera) would have to take place early next year. Enter: Nogueira-Kongo. Initially scheduled to go down at UFC 79 in December, the fight has been bumped. It's not clear why, but it does provide perfect timing for both these competitors. The booking of Nogueira-Kongo at the same time of Couture's next fight means two big things, other than the fact that the winner will most likely get a shot at the gold.
For Nogueira, it means that the UFC has finally committed to pushing him. He's widely recognized as the #2 HW in the world, but due to his inability to speak English and lackluster win over Heath Herring a few months ago, fan support (and thus, Dana White support) has dwindled. This match up with Kongo, especially with its scheduled date, is a vote of confidence unlike any Nogueira has seen before.
For Kongo, it means that the dream has been realized. Following a massacre of Cro Cop, Kongo now finds himself one win away from a title shot with one of the greatest champions of all time. The UFC will be more than willing to throw it's support behind a young, jacked, charismatic Kongo. Ideally, Kongo-Vera will be the HW battle that UFC execs are looking to see blossom over the next four years.
So, we wait. But with our patience comes the reality that the UFC HW division is shaping up to be stacked after all. It's in a much different manner than was expected (no superfights between CC and Couture), but it should prove to be just as entertaining with a large group of fighters who all deserve to be there.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
UFC Balance Of Power Regains Normalcy
With the wins of Randy Couture and Georges St. Pierre on Saturday night, the pair finalized UFC's return to general predictability (a good thing) following a span of upsets which stretched from 68 to 71, effectively throwing three of the five title pictures in disarray. With Sherk's win (let's forget about the steroids for a moment), Couture's first successful defense of the HW title, and St. Pierre displaying his ability to shake the Serra blues, it appears that we can start narrowing the talent into some Superfights.
No need to give Gonzaga another title shot now. And after St. Pierre's dismantling of Koscheck, it's obvious that St. Pierre and Hughes are the only guys who deserve to be on the top of that division. Not Sanchez, not Kos, not Parisyan, and certainly none of the other guys who were said to be in line for a title shot. Just the best of the best. Had Koscheck won the fight on Saturday, it would've taken even more legitimacy from the division and possibly...just possibly set up for Koscheck-Serra. Instead of being forced to witness that eyesore, it looks as if we're on track for GSP-Hughes III, which is the best fight for the fighters, the fans, and of course, the sport.
Couture's huge win marks the reality of his second coming in the UFC as he has now dispatched of two contenders (Sylvia and Gonzaga) who have at times been heralded as greats, but have now been reduced to pawns. This is significant because now Couture can start wading through the real contenders, the PRIDE guys. Similar to the Koscheck-Serra scenario, I think I speak for everyone when I say we really dodged a bullet with the potential Gonzaga-Nogueira matchup. Instead, we should be treated to Couture-CC, Couture-Nog, or even Couture-Fedor. With CC's recent loss and Nog's less than stellar opening show, there really is no contender in the UFC who should be considered a favorite against "The Natural." It may be up to White to sign someone who can fill these shoes.
The narrowing of competition continues at UFC 75 with the Henderson-Rampage match, a virtual win-win for the UFC. With a Liddell and Shogun wins at 76, the UFC should be set up perfectly for a winter to remember. Silva and Franklin will kick things off with what should be a war. We will most likely see Shogun against the winner of Rampage-Henderson. Couture will almost definitely fight Cro Cop or Nogueira. And barring something amazing happening, Hughes will get another crack at GSP. It may have not been the most exciting event in the world, but UFC 74 has now set the stage for the success that is to come.
(Originally published on martialbase.com)
Saturday, August 25, 2007
UFC 74 LIVE RESULTS & UPDATES
Throughout the evening of August 25, 2007, Irish Whip Fighting will be providing up-to-the-minute updates for every televised fight at UFC 74. With St. Pierre rebounding from the Serra loss and Couture taking on Cro Cop killer Gabriel Gonzaga, this won't be a card to miss. Updates start at 10 PM EST.
Randy Couture defeats Gabriel Gonzaga in the third round via TKO
Georges St. Pierre defeats Josh Koscheck via unanimous decision
Roger Huerta defeats Alberto Crane via technical knockout (strikes) in round three
Joe Stevenson defeats Kurt Pellegrino via unanimous decision
Patrick Cote defeats Kendall Grove via technical knockout (strikes) in round one
Renato “Babalu” Sobral defeats David Heath via submission (anaconda choke) in round two
Frank Mir defeats Antoni Hardonk via submission (kimura) in round one
Thales Leites defeats Ryan Jensen via submission (armbar) in round one
Clay Guida defeats Marcus Aurelio via split decision
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Greg Jackson Welcomes St. Pierre
According to The Fight Network, Former UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre has found himself a new camp to train at. Pierre has official become part of Greg Jackson's camp in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
From The Fight Network:Highly regarded New Mexico coach Greg Jackson says he and his fighters expect to log a lot of air miles to Montreal in the coming months, with the recent addition of Quebec native Georges St. Pierre to his stable. St. Pierre recently dropped his trainer, ex-Soviet Special Forces sniper Victor Vargotsky, in favor of the Albuquerque-based Jackson, who mentors fighters like Rashad Evans, Nate Marquardt and Keith Jardine. St. Pierre hosted the trio for a two-week training camp at his home in Candiac. St. Pierre… feels he made the best decision to help himself evolve as a fighter.
Under Jackson's camp are many well-known fighters, such as: Rashad Evans, Jason McDonald, Nathan Marquardt, Keith Jardine, and Joey Villasenor.
Georges St. Pierre most recently lost his WW title to Matt Serra by TKO at UFC 69.
Pierre is set to face Josh Koscheck at UFC 74, set to take place on August 25. Headlining the card will be current UFC HW champ Randy Couture, as he will put his belt on the line against Gabriel Gonzaga.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
BREAKING NEWS: Wanderlei Debuts Dec. 29 at UFC 79
Wanderlei Silva, who recently moved to West Palm Beach, FL, is set to make his return to the UFC at UFC 79 on Dec. 29. Silva has been training with UFC Heavyweight Champ Randy "The Natural" Couture.
According to the Xtreme Couture MMA blog, MMA superstar Wanderlei Silva has been helping Randy train for his upcoming bout with Gonzaga, set for UFC 74.
Randy had nothing but great things to say about "The Axe Murderer":“It’s great to have him in the gym. I’m anxious to pick his brain. To explore his training tactics and techniques. I’m also looking forward to building a rapport with him going forward. We had some good goes today. We were working out of half guard and the mount. He’s very tough in both positions.”
Wanderlei made the prediction in favor of "The Natural," stating that he has "very good boxing."
Silva was also highly impressed with Couture's underrated jiu-jitsu skills, he said this:“He’s strong on the ground. He has very good jiu jitsu and excellent stamina. He’s stronger than I thought.”
Silva's first opponent has yet to be confirmed, but he hopes it will be against Chuck Liddell.
Wanderlei Silva was PRIDE's former middleweight champion and will be coming off two back-to-back knockout losses to Mirko "Cro Cop" and Dan "Dangerous" Henderson.
Wanderlei couldn't have picked a better fighter to work with. Couture will help him tremendously with his wrestling, takedown abilities and defense and so much more. couture, on the other hand, will also be able to further polish his stand-up skills with Silva.
Here is a video of a recent interview, conducted by Sherdog, of Wanderlei about his coming to the U.S. and his soon to be UFC career:
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Top 10 MMA Beatdowns!
"Styles make fights" seems to be the general consensus for cutthroat action and competitive fights. Well, the same cannot be entirely true for all fights. Every now and then, a poor clash of styles allows fights to be one sided, allowing one fighter to deliver a tremendous can of whoop ass to the other. After a valiant effort to scour for the best ass whoopings, here are my top ten beat downs in PRIDE Fighting Championships/Ultimate Fighting Championships. An article by Masson Liang
Honorable mention:
Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic vs. Yoshihisa Yamamoto
Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic vs. Hidehiko Yoshida
Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic vs. Igor Vovchanchyn
Fedor "The Last Emperor" Emelianeko vs. Antonio Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira
Wanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva vs. Kazushi Sakuraba I, II
Wanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva vs. Yuki Kondo
Igor Vovchanchyn vs. Enson Inoue
10. GSP vs. Sherk
Before this fight, I would've never imagined someone brutally overpowering Sherk (besides Matt Hughes). That is exactly what former welterweight champion Georges "Rush" St. Pierre did at UFC 56. Throughout the course of the fight, GSP completely neutralized Sherk's greatest weapon: his take downs. With Sherk's take downs out of the picture, St. Pierre picked Sherk apart on the feet and was able to take Sherk down for some casual ground and pound action. GSP almost made Sherk look silly through the rounds as it was called to a stop after what must have, to Sherk, seemed like a never ending onslaught of punches and elbows by "Rush." Georges walked away nearly unscathed for a TKO victory in under three minutes of the second round.
9. Anderson "The Spider" Silva vs. Chris "I Got Crippled" Leben
Anderson Silva figured he'd take a stab outside of "Japan's easy competition," as Leben so foolishly put it. It just so happened that Leben was the first in Silva's cross hairs for his UFC debut. Leben's heavy hands got him nowhere as Silva gave him zero chance whatsoever. Silva did what he does best and threw a series of punches, kicks and knees and took out Leben with ease for the lightning quick knockout victory, lasting only 49 seconds. Silva was 9 for 9 with his strikes during this bout.
8. Matt Hughes vs. Royce Gracie
This fight was not just another classic beatdown, it also showed a sharp contrast of new school MMA versus the old school. UFC Hall of Famer Royce Gracie, known to win over larger opponents in his early UFC days, failed to do so against Hughes. After a fairly slow start, the match quickly erupted as Hughes took Royce's back and began his lesson on the evolution of mixed martial arts. At one point, Hughes secured an armbar but let it go out of respect and proceeded to pound away on Royce's head for the TKO victory at 4:39 of round number one. Not only was this an utter domination of the UFC Hall of Famer, but it truly showed fans the evolution that MMA has benefited from over the years.
7. Fedor "The Russian Emperor" Emelianenko vs. Gary Goodridge
From start to finish, this fight was painfully one sided for the Russian Emperor. It looked like a Rodney King video except Fedor stood in for the entire squad of LAPD officers. Fedor kicked off the match by greeting Goodridge's face with what looked like twelve vicious hooks and eight uppercuts to the body. Fedor quickly took it to the ground and showed Goodridge why his ground-and-pound is considered to be the best in the business, as he took the easy win in 1:09 of the first round.
6. Anderson "The Spider" Silva vs. Rich "Ace" Franklin
Coming into this fight, everyone knew Anderson Silva brought a much more polished striking arsenal over the current UFC middleweight champ, Rich "Ace" Franklin. But nobody expected the outcome to be this barbaric. Anderson Silva, a Brazilian Muay Thai champion and PRIDE veteran, outclassed Franklin from the start of the match. Silva blasted away at Franklin's face with punches and kicks only to set-up a barrage of knees that sent Franklin back 32 years into his fetal position. Silva walked away with the win and the belt in under three minutes of the first round. After the rearrangement given to Franklin's nose/face, Anderson Silva gave Picasso a run for his money.
5. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua vs. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson
This fight should certainly quiet naysayers who question why Shogun is ranked as the top light-heavyweight in MMA today. Shogun completely out struck current UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson in the same fashion as his famed teammate Wanderlei Silva did. Shogun even found the opportunity to throw one of his flamboyant flying kicks to the head. All in all, Shogun completely dismantled Jackson, teeing off whenever he pleased, even breaking Jackson's ribs. At the tender age of 23, Shogun so elegantly showcased Chute Boxe's most feared striking point (the knees) as he knocked out the UFC
champ in just under five minutes into the first round.
4. Fedor "The Russian Emperor" Emelianenko vs. Mark "The Hammer" Coleman II
Out of the other performances, this was without a doubt one of the more painful ones to watch. It looked like a classic school yard brawl as Fedor made a human punching bag out of Coleman. Outside of holding Fedor on the ring's post and ropes, Coleman just had no answer for the mighty Russian. Fedor dictated the fight the entire time and decided he wanted to go home and watch some TV a minute into the 2nd round as he finished Coleman off with a flawlessly executed arm bar. It was not till after the submission where the most painful part came in. A battered and beat down Coleman sobbed as his two daughters joined him in the ring.
3. Ricardo Arona vs. Kazushi Sakuraba
Ricardo Arona shattered one of Japan's greatest idols in this bout, which took place at PRIDE Critical Countdown 2005. All of Sakuraba's take down attempts were met with a downpour of knees and strikes from the merciless Arona. Sakuraba had a few decent exchanges on the feet, but Arona had the advantage on the feet and ground throughout the majority of the match. In the end, Sakuraba's heart of a lion was not enough to carry him through this one (though it allowed him to endure a wealth of punishment) and the fight was called to a stop at the end of the second round. Ricardo Arona made Kazushi Sakuraba's face look like one of Jackson Pollack's greatest accomplishments to date and Sakuraba's bloodied up face is still seen floating around Sherdog threads dedicated to most battered faces in a fight.
2. Randy Couture vs. Tito Ortiz
Leave it up to Randy for the most awe-inspiring wins. Captain America, yet again, shocked the world in his fight against Tito Ortiz for the light heavyweight belt. Couture proved to his fans that a decision win doesn't automatically label a fight as boring. Couture overpowered Tito round after round, as he neutralized Ortiz's take down attempts. A superb Greco-Roman wrestler, Couture utilized his skills dominating Tito in the clinch every chance possible. Couture made a rag-doll out of Tito and punished the "bad boy" with a good ol' fashion spanking in the 5th round. Randy "The Natural" Couture ultimately won the title by a lopsided unanimous decision and again proved that age is nothing but a number.
1. Randy "The Natural" Couture vs. Tim "The Maine-iac" Sylvia
This fight was not only a complete 25 minute domination of the "giant," but it bordered as one of the greatest fights in history. Couture crawled out of retirement at the age of 44, came off of a brutal knockout loss from Chuck Liddell and became the first five-time champion in UFC history after beating Sylvia for the HW title. The UFC hall of famer started the fight out with a thunderous right hand that sent Sylvia straight to the canvas wondering where the hell he was. The rest is history, literally. Couture was relentless on the feet and on the ground as he imposed his will on the giant. "The Natural" pounded his way to victory for a unanimous decision that sent the crowd roaring.
The Lianger
Monday, August 6, 2007
Couture An Underdog, Great Pick For UFC 74
As the events surrounding UFC bouts draw near, odds on the event typically settle down from their previously erratic manner. However, the odds on the Randy Couture-Gabriel Gonzaga fight have been relatively steady all along... and not in favor of "The Natural." Irish Whip Fighting breaks down the bout here and tells you how to best spend your betting money! (Originally written for Martial Base)
I was surprised when I initially saw that Couture was a +105 underdog and Gonzaga was a -130 favorite (source: 5Dimes), but I assumed that this would even out as we neared the event and we got further away from the shock of Gonzaga's win over Cro Cop. Weeks later, and I stand corrected. It seems that a Cro Cop knockout carries my cache than I thought. As such, it appears that these will be the final lines heading into the event. And if they are, my suggestion is bet, bet, bet!
Gonzaga is the younger fighter and he is getting better, but I just don't think he's anywhere nearly as skilled as Couture. Whether he fought in K-1, Shooto Brazil, or the UFC, Gonzaga has never gone past the third round. The much more experienced Couture, on the other hand, routinely grounds and pounds for 25 minutes straight. If the fight goes past the third round, expect Gonzaga to gas and Couture to come into his own. Randy Couture spent the last round of his fight against "Cardio Master" Tito Ortiz at UFC 44 smashing him into the ground and at one point, spanking him.
This would lead one to believe that if the fight is going to end, it'll have to be done in a shocking and quick manner, similar to the Cro Cop fight. Despite my belief that Couture will prevail, it should be noted that Gonzaga has NEVER let a fight reach a decision, lending more credence to the belief that Gonzaga's only shot is an early victory. However, I don't think Couture will let the fight end early and will instead confuse and frustrate the Brazilian. I expect Gonzaga to be tentative early, similar to his UFC 56 fight against Kevin Jordan, which will open himself up for an early Couture takedown (see: Couture-Sylvia). Couture must be careful here, as Gonzaga is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu wizard, but he should be able to offer effective strikes while being mindful of Gonzaga's masterful guard.
To recap, I don't see anyway that Gonzaga wins this. If "Napao" tries to finish Couture early, he'll get taken down and pounded. If Gonzaga chooses to feel Couture out a little longer, he'll get gas towards the end, make a mistake, and pay for it. As a result, this underdog money is an excellent bet. I know I'll be taking the money on Couture. I've seen him dominate and fight perfectly too many times to think that Gonzaga has a shot in hell. Of course, I said the same thing about Georges St. Pierre and Matt Serra...
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Liddell-Couture Trilogy To Release on DVD!
Fans will finally be able to have the ever-so-rare UFC 57: Liddell-Couture 3 DVD in a Trilogy DVD Set. All three Liddell-Couture feuds will be captured in this trilogy set, as UFC 43, 52, and 57 will be included.
This may not be the biggest news, but I've been dying to have UFC 57, which has been sold-out in stores as well as the Internet. After a whopping 18-month hiatus, UFC has finally decided to release the event in a trilogy with a fourth bonus disc containing behind-the-scenes footage of the two and Frank Mir's return to the UFC after his motorcycle accident in 2004.
The Liddell-Couture Trilogy is set to hit the stores on September 24, 2007 for a price ranging through $30 to $40 depending on where you buy it.
Originally, UFC 57: Liddell-Couture 3 was nearly impossible to obtain in stores due to the UFC's former distributor, Ventura Home Entertainment. Ventura Home Entertainment had filed for a "general assignment," equivalent to a bankruptcy.
UFC 57: Liddell vs. Couture was an event held on February 4, 2006 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. UFC 57 also set the record for the largest grossing gate to date, $3.3 million, on top of over 400,000 pay-per-view buys.
The main event headlining the card was a rubber match between former UFC lightheavyweight champion Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell and UFC's current heavyweight champion Randy "The Natural Couture." The rubber match at the time was a light heavyweight match.
Couture had pulled a TKO victory over "The Iceman" back at UFC 43: Meltdown and lost his rematches against Liddell at UFC 52 and UFC 57, both falling to the hands of Liddell by way of knockout.
Randy "The Natural" Couture is now the UFC's heavyweight champion, defeating the former heavyweight champion, Tim Sylvia, at UFC 68: The Uprising which was held on March 3, 2007.
You can buy the trilogy set at BestBuy.com ($34.99) or if you have an extra five dollars laying around you can purchase it at UFC.com's store ($39.99).
The Lianger
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
BJ Penn to Fight Diego Sanchez
According to Sherdog.com this morning, sources say that BJ "The Prodigy" Penn will now face off against Diego "Nightmare" Sanchez on UFC 74's undercard. UFC 74's main event features a UFC heavyweight title fight between Randy "The Natural" Couture and Gabriel Gonzaga, which is set to take place on August 25, 2007 at the Mandalay Bay in Les Vegas, Nevada.
It had already been rumored that Sanchez was set to make his appearance at UFC 74, but against PRIDE veteran Hayato Sakurai. Sources of Sherdog.com seem to have put out the fire supporting those rumors.
Penn, the 28-year-old Hawaii native, recently stopped Jens "Little Evil" Pulver, in a lightweight battle, with an extraordinary submission win at the Ultimate Fighter 5 Finale.
However, the same thing cannot be said for Diego Sanchez. Sanchez tarnished his perfect MMA record with lackluster performance, to say the least. Sanchez lost by a unanimous decision to long hated opponent Josh Koscheck at UFC 69: Shootout, where the two circled around like little fairy's for most of the fight. Sanchez now stands with a record of 17 wins and 1 loss.
There's actually a lot at stake in this fight. It would be a devastating blow to Penn if he loses to Sanchez, on the other hand, it would be a huge step-up for Sanchez if he somehow manages to pull out the win against "The Prodigy." In addition, if Penn loses it would most likely further his chances for a rematch against Matt Hughes and/or Georges St. Pierre, the sole reason why he decided to move back up the welterweight division.
Looks like UFC 74: Respect is starting to shape up real nicely, the Penn-Sanchez bout will join the St. Pierre-Koscheck and the Couture-Gonzaga heavyweight title match. Sweet fragrant lord, I can't wait for UFC 74!
I was always impressed by PRIDE's cards, they would usually contain intriguing matches from start to finish. The UFC is finally taking a page out of PRIDE's match-making and producing kick-ass cards.
The Lianger
