Frankie Edgar sees 'massive changes' in UFC 150 rematch with Benson Henderson
(mmajunkie.com)Frankie Edgar may have yet another rematch ahead of him Saturday, but he has no designs on things being remotely the same this time around.
Edgar meets Benson Henderson in the main event of UFC 150 with the lightweight title on the line – a belt Edgar held for nearly two years, and one he wants back.
UFC 150 takes place Saturday at Pepsi Center in Denver. The main card, including the Henderson-Edgar headliner, airs on pay-per-view.
Strikeforce talking to ex-champ Cristiane 'Cyborg' Santos about drop to bantamweight
(mmajunkie.com)The one-year suspension of Cristiane 'Cyborg' Santos (10-1 MMA, 4-0 SF) ends in mid-December, and Strikeforce officials are already looking at her next move.
It's a possible move down in weight to the bantamweight division, where next week's winner of champ Ronda Rousey vs. Sarah Kaufman could await.
"We'll have to talk to [Santos] at that time and see what her interest is as far as going down in weight," Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "I know it's something that (Strikeforce matchmaker) Sean (Shelby) has had dialogue about, fighting at 135."
Underdog status just fine with Ed Herman against Jake Shields at UFC 150
(mmajunkie.com)Ed Herman has been living up to his "Short Fuse" nickname since a return this past year from a lengthy injury layoff.
The cast member of Season 3 of "The Ultimate Fighter" has been getting in and getting out of his fights quickly during a 3-0 tear, averaging just under 4 minutes a fight with three stoppages – two in the first round.
Yet still, ahead of his UFC 150 main card fight against Jake Shields on Saturday, Herman doesn't seem to be getting much attention – which is just fine with him.
Velasquez thinks UFC champ Dos Santos getting caught up in Overeem's trash talk
(mmajunkie.com)Cain Velasquez thinks UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos is getting too caught up in Alistair Overeem's trash talk and should focus on other things – like fighting him.
"As a champion, you really can't pick and choose who you fight," Velasquez told MMAjunkie.com. "You're supposed to fight the No. 1 contender."
Velasquez and his camp now wait to hear from the UFC on whether he'll fight Dos Santos, as he was earlier told.
Nike Signs UFC Champion Jon Jones to Global Sponsorship Deal
(mmafighting.com)The UFC light heavyweight champion has signed a sweeping, worldwide sponsorship deal with sports apparel giant Nike, MMA Fighting has confirmed with multiple sources.
The two sides have agreed to a multi-year contract that will see Jones decked out in Nike gear for the foreseeable future. On Sept. 1, when he faces Dan Henderson at UFC 151, Jones will be rocking the famous "Swoosh."
As a part of the deal, Jones will be featured on worldwide Nike advertising and receive his own signature line, sources said. It is expected to be announced within a week.
Jay Hieron vs. Jake Ellenberger set for UFC 151
(mmajunkie.com)Seven years after his most recent trip to the octagon, Jay Hieron (23-5 MMA, 0-2 UFC) is returning to the UFC. Multiples sources close to the event today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that Hieron has agreed to replace injured Josh Koscheck (17-6 MMA, 15-6 UFC) and now will meet fellow welterweight Jake Ellenberger (27-6 MMA, 6-2 UFC) at UFC 151.
Mirko 'Cro Cop' Filipovic looks to return to MMA
(mmajunkie.com)At 37 years old, Croatian combat-sports legend Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic believes he will again compete in MMA.
Despite walking away from the Ultimate Fighting Championship after an October loss to Roy Nelson, Filipovic told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) and USA TODAY Sports that he is training in the sport and envisions a return to MMA.
"Concerning my retirement from the UFC, I said it was my last fight for the UFC and last fight on the present contract, but I did not say, 'I won't keep fighting,'" Filipovic said. "I never said that. I think the best thing to say is that I was born to fight."
After leaving the UFC, Filipovic had surgery to repair torn muscles and tendons in his arm. He has returned to training and said he feels like an athlete reborn.
Shogun and Ninja Go Separate Ways After Tension with Coach
(fightersonlymag.com)Internal tensions in Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua’s camp have caused a rift between him and his older brother Murilo ‘Ninja’.
Since his first days of competition, Ninja has always been in the corner when Shogun fights but he was absent for the weekend’s bout against Brandon Vera, which headlined UFC on FOX 4. The reason is Andrea Dida, Shogun’s head coach. Ninja does not like him and does not agree with his training methods, nor the way that he coaches.
“Guys, I was not with Mauricio in this fight because I have a problem with Dida. I do not agree with the way he corners and drills him,” he wrote on Twitter at the weekend, responding to queries about his absence...
Alistair Overeem Responds to Junior dos Santos: ‘I Think He’s Afraid to Fight Me’
(mmaweekly.com)Last weekend following the action at UFC on Fox 4, UFC President Dana White revealed the news that heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos has requested to face Alistair Overeem next instead of Cain Velasquez.
Velasquez was the de facto No. 1 contender after his win at UFC 146, and originally he was rumored to face the man that took the UFC heavyweight title from him at UFC 152 in Toronto this September.
Delays kept happening and the fight never materialized, but then it was revealed that dos Santos had asked to face Overeem instead because he was a ‘punk’ and had been running his mouth too much of late.
Now Overeem has responded after speaking to UFC Tonight, and his belief is that dos Santos really doesn’t want the fight to happen in the first place.
Frankie Edgar: It Doesn’t Feel Right Not Being the Champion
(mmaweekly.com)Everybody in the world has routines.
Whether it’s waking up in the morning and having a cup of coffee or always turning on programs in a certain order when starting a computer, life is built around routines.
From April 2010 to February 26 2012, Frankie Edgar‘s routine was going to bed at night and waking up in the morning as the UFC lightweight champion of the world. Edgar got used to having that title around his waist and being referred to as ‘champ’ or the best in the world.
But since losing the belt to Benson Henderson back in February, Edgar’s new routine hasn’t suited him nearly as well. It’s a taste that’s hard to swallow and one he hopes to rectify this weekend at UFC 150 in Denver.
“It definitely doesn’t feel right,” Edgar said about not being champion when speaking to MMAWeekly Radio. “Especially when people say ‘former UFC world champion’. You try not to put everything on world titles and what not, but being champ is nice.
UFC officials back Las Vegas LGBTQ Community Center, take part in groundbreaking
(mmajunkie.com)UFC Vice President of Community Relations Reed Harris and former UFC light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin were among a small group of UFC officials on hand for Tuesday's groundbreaking ceremony for the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada.
The ceremony served as the official start of construction of a new center for the non-profit organization.
The UFC's parent company, Zuffa, LLC, is an initial donor for the project. Other benefactors include Las Vegas-based companies Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Station Casinos and Wynn Las Vegas.
UFC 150's Melvin Guillard and Donald Cerrone are friends looking for a knockout
(mmajunkie.com)It's something you don't often hear in the MMA business. Melvin Guillard and Donald Cerrone said it was easier to agree to fight each other because they were friends.
"This is the first time we’re actually going to be able to throw punches and kicks and not have to pull them," Guillard said.
The two trained together at Jackson-Winkeljohn MMA in Albuquerque, N.M., and threw plenty of blows getting ready for fights, though none at the full speed required for the cage.
Josh Koscheck Injured, Out of UFC 151 Fight with Jake Ellenberger
(mmaweekly.com)Josh Koscheck has been forced out of his scheduled bout against Jake Ellenberger on the Sept 1 card due to a bulging disc in his back.
Unfortunately now UFC officials are left to find a replacement to try to step in and face Ellenberger on just three weeks notice for the upcoming card in Las Vegas.
The injury was reported on Fuel TV via UFC Tonight on Tuesday evening.
Sheriff still gathering evidence in barfight allegedly involving UFC's Chad Mendes
(mmajunkie.com)
The Kings County Sheriff's Office is gathering additional evidence before deciding whether to request charges against onetime UFC featherweight challenger Chad Mendes.
"There are still more witness interviews," Assistant Sheriff Dave Putnam told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "We've learned that there's possibly a video from the bar that we need to try and get our hands on. So the case is not ready to be submitted to the district attorney yet to see if there's possible charges."
Mendes has denied wrongdoing after allegations surfaced of his involvement in a bar brawl more than a week ago in Hanford, Calif.
The brawl took place July 28 at the Lacey Inn Bar in Hanford and involved 40 people. It was later broken up by local authorities. Mendes was sought for questioning when it was alleged that he sucker-punched a bar patron and ran away.
"While Chad acknowledges that an incident occurred last Saturday in Hanford, he contends that the majority of the facts pertaining to him in the story are absolutely false," read a statement released this past week by his management company, MMA Inc
UFC on FX 5 main card set, Browne vs. 'Bigfoot' slated for five rounds
(mmajunkie.com)As MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) first reported, heavyweights Travis Browne (13-0-1 MMA, 4-0-1 UFC) and Antonio Silva (16-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC) meet in the event's headliner. Officials today announced, as with other non-title main events, it'll be contested over five rounds.
MAIN CARD (FX)
Travis Browne vs. Antonio Silva
Rob Broughton vs. Matt Mitrione
John Dodson vs. Jussier Formiga
Josh Neer vs. Justin Edwards
PRELIMINARY CARD (FUEL TV)
Phil Davis vs. Wagner Prado*
Mike Pierce vs. Aaron Simpson*
Marcus LeVesseur vs. Carlo Prater
Louis Gaudinot vs. Darren Uyenoyama
Diego Nunes vs. Bart Palaszewski
UFC on FOX 4 Ratings: Approximately 2.36 Million Tune In For Shogun vs. Vera
(mmafighting.com)In the considerable shadow of the Olympics, Saturday night's UFC on FOX 4 was never expected to win the evening's ratings battle. The fight card produced a considerable amount of action and drama, but in the end, the ratings reflected the difficulty of stacking up against a powerhouse sports property.
The event, highlights by a main event pitting former UFC light-heavyweight champion Mauricio "Shogun" Rua against Brandon Vera, saw its highest ratings in the last half-hour, when approximately 2.36 million tuned in for the showcase fight...
Frank Mir Excited by Matchup With Daniel Cormier, Explains TRT Usage
(mmafighting.com)Frank Mir was smack in the middle of taking the summer off to spend time with his family when the powers-that-be came to him with an unexpected offer. Just two months after unsuccessfully bidding for the UFC heavyweight championship, Mir was given an option to move over to sister company Strikeforce, just for one night, to face its recent Grand Prix winner, Daniel Cormier.
It was only months earlier when the UFC had asked B.J. Penn to move to Strikeforce and fight lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez, so while what they were asking him to do was not unprecedented, his answer was...
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira Would Like To Coach TUF Brazil 2 Against Shogun Rua
(bloodyelbow.com)After Mauricio "Shogun" Rua picked up a win over Brandon Vera at UFC on Fox 4 on Saturday, he was not granted the UFC light heavyweight title shot he had hoped for. So the big question was simple - what's next for Shogun? The Ultimate Fighter Brazil 2 will be kicking off soon, and it was all but confirmed that Shogun was going to be a coach on the show against Lyoto Machida before this recent light heavyweight kerfuffle. Since that's clearly out the window now with Machida getting a title shot, who could coach against Rua?
Enter Lil' Nog.
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