Category: Events (Page 31 of 45)

      Story steps in for Johnson, will face Marquardt at UFC on Versus 4

      June 3, 2011 /

      nullNo rest for the wicked.

      Just a few days after scoring the biggest win in his young MMA career, Rick Story found out he won’t have to wait long to return to the octagon, as he will fill in for the injured Anthony Johnson at UFC on Versus 4.

      Story will take on Nate Marquardt in his welterweight debut on June 26 from Pittsburgh, Penn. MMAMania.com has the details.

      Story has accepted this bout less than a week removed from his three-round war against Thiago Alves at the UFC 130 event on May 28. He absorbed a ton of punishment but outlasted “Pitbull” on his way to a unanimous decision win.

      It was the sixth in a row for “Horror” who has been campaigning for a shot at the welterweight title. He’s steadily working his way up the ladder, picking off contenders as he goes.

      This fight is just as interesting as Johnson vs. Marquardt, if not more. Story relies on being a bully in the cage, using his size and pressure to win fights. But, Marquardt is just as good at that as anyone and will likely be the bigger fighter of the two.

      This will truly be a big test for Story.

      Events, Fighters, News, UFC

      With Diaz vs. GSP in place, many new options open in UFC

      June 2, 2011 /

      nullWednesday night, Dana White made a big announcement by saying Strikeforce welterweight champion, Nick Diaz, will now face UFC welterweight champion, Georges St. Pierre, at UFC 137 in October.

      Apparently White was able to tear up Diaz’ old contract and sign him to a new one that basically allowed White to make any matches involving Diaz that he pleased in either organization.

      If White can do it once, he can do it as many times as he would like.

      How about Gilbert Melendez?

      The Strikeforce lightweight champion has been campaigning for a unification bout with the UFC champion and now, the planned order of contenders in the UFC seems to be shifting.

      It appears that Anthony Pettis, who was the No. 1 contender after winning the WEC title, will now have to win two fights before getting a crack at the UFC strap, according to Fighters Only Magazine.

      “That kid’s in a bad position. He’s supposed to be the next in line. All this craziness happens. [Edgar and Maynard] both get hurt, and it gets pushed back again. The first one is a draw, then they get hurt, and it gets pushed back again. But this is one of those things that happens in a sport like this,” says UFC president Dana White.

      “I respect [Pettis] for stepping up and taking on a tough guy like Guida, and he’ll probably have to fight again before he gets a shot at one of those guys. Sucks for him. It’s a shi–y position for him to be in.”

      If Pettis is fighting Guida before Edgar-Maynard III even takes place, why would he have to fight again? This tells me that White has someone else in mind as the next challenger for the UFC belt.

      Continue reading »

      Events, Fighters, News, Strikeforce, UFC

      Jon Fitch wants to fight the best, nothing less

      June 1, 2011 /

      nullJon Fitch is tired of the days of facing lesser opponents.

      After Rick Story called out Fitch following his win over Thiago Alves at UFC 130, Fitch has made it clear that he wants just one of two possible fights in an interview with MMAWeekly.com.

      “I’m at a point in my career where I need to be fighting main events and main event fighters,” Fitch told MMAWeekly.com. “And if you don’t have a belt, currently, or you haven’t owned a belt in the UFC, I’m not really interested.”

      “I’ve gone out of my way throughout my career to just fight everybody they put in front of me and it’s cost me dearly. When you fight somebody who no one knows and don’t recognize their name, it doesn’t matter how bad you beat them.

      “I kind of had a talk with Rashad Evans during the expo up in Canada. (It) kind of opened up my eyes to it a little bit. He was telling me I (have to) stop screwing around, I have to think about my career, and I’m a main event fighter. I should only be fighting main event people.”

      “I want BJ or GSP. Those are the only two guys I care (to fight) or have any interest in right now. If I (have to) sit out a year and wait for them, I’ll do it. That’s what I’m waiting to fight for.”

      Fitch is currently out until late 2011 after shoulder surgery, but the 23-3-1 veteran of the UFC has a point. He has faced a number of unknown opponents during his UFC run and went through them all.

      Fitch is a big enough name that he can demand top fights and not many people are going to argue. Still, the UFC doesn’t seem keen on giving him another bout with St. Pierre after GSP beat him up for five rounds in their first meeting.

      Events, Fighters, News, UFC

      Future Fight Watch: Jones Favored Over Rampage

      May 30, 2011 /

      nullIf healthy, it is believed that Quinton “Rampage” Jackson will face Jon “Bones” Jones for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship later in 2011.

      Already, odds have been released for this could-be contest, thanks to BetOnFighting.com.

      According to the oddsmakers, the champion is favored with a money line of -315 while Jackson, the challenger, comes in with a money line of +255.

      Jackson vs. Jones would be an interesting matchup as Jones hasn’t faced a fighter with the single-punch power that Jackson has and Rampage has struggled with diverse grapplers like Jones.

      Jones was able to easily navigate Maurcio “Shogun” Rua, but Jackson is a fighter that will not be as tentative as Shogun was in his battle with Jones.

      Jackson showed very impressive takedown defense against Matt Hamill at UFC 130 on Saturday, but the takedown attempts that Jones will have will be much more explosive and harder to stop.

      The big question for this fight is we have yet to see Jones truly take a big punch and really fight through adversity. One would think Rampage could present that moment at some point in the fight.

      If Jones vs. Rashad Evans can’t happen anytime soon, I think someone like Rampage could be a very interesting test for the young phenom, Jones.

      Events, Fighters, News, UFC

      5 June bouts to mark down on your calendar

      May 30, 2011 /

      nullThe month of June is stacked for MMA fans.

      Over the next month, three UFC shows will take place, including one PPV. The second half of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix will be held as well, and Bellator will kick off its next season.

      With that in mind, here are the top five bouts I am most looking forward to in June.

      1. June 4 – Ultimate Fighter Finale – Anthony Pettis (13-1) vs. Clay Guida (28-11) – The main event of this Saturday’s Ultimate Fighter Season 13 Finale is the fight I’m most looking forward to. Anthony Pettis is set to make his UFC debut after ending the WEC as its lightweight champion with his “Showtime Pettis Kick” against Ben Henderson. His first challenge is a big one, as he takes on perennial UFC lightweight contender, Clay Guida. Both men possess great problems for the other as Pettis has the size and striking edge while Guida has the grappling edge. Both fighters will also leave everything in the cage, which should make for an exciting 15 minutes of action, if the fight goes that long.

      2. June 18 – Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix – Alistair Overeem (34-11) vs. Fabricio Werdum (14-4-1) – Something has to give between the top two heavyweights in Strikeforce. It was odds to see them placed against one another in the first round of this Grand Prix, but as a fight fan, I won’t complain. Both men have been hyped up as top-of-the-line heavyweights in any organization, but someone has to live up to that hype, and someone’s hype will come crashing down. Overeem has been a bully in the cage as of late, just over-powering opponents with his striking while Werdum was the man to end Fedor’s long reign as king of MMA. Whose style will play out and allow them to advance in the grand prix?

      Continue reading »

      Events, Fighters, Strikeforce, The Ultimate Fighter, UFC

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