Category: News (Page 32 of 40)

Diaz lined up for boxing match unless offered GSP

May 7, 2011 / Drew Ellis

Nick Diaz seems adamant about one thing. He wants to get paid.

The Strikeforce Welterweight Champion is seeking either a high-paying super fight with UFC champion, Georges St. Pierre, or he is going to enter the boxing ring in hopes of earning a big payday.

The good folks at MMAJunkie.com put together a story featuring boxing promoter, Don Chagrin, who has a deal in place to have Diaz face IBF super-middleweight champion, Jeff Lacy in the boxing ring.

Today’s announcement that Diaz and Lacy will box this fall was met by a caveat from Diaz manager Cesar Gracie, who said the fight could be shelved if the UFC offered the Strikeforce welterweight champ a fight with UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre.
“I don’t want to get into a thing,” Chagrin today told MMAjunkie.com “I’ve got a contract. If the UFC fight comes up, then we can talk.
“But they were the ones that wanted me to go ahead, and I’ve gone and acted in good faith. I’m thinking that they will.”
Gracie said today that he’s waiting to hear from the UFC on the potential Diaz vs. St-Pierre superfight. UFC president Dana White said this past week that he would meet with the Strikeforce champion in his hometown of Stockton, Calif., to discuss the fighter’s future.
“Barring something like (UFC president) Dana White telling us, ‘Hey, we really need you to fight GSP at such-and-such a date and it conflicts with [boxing] – barring that, we’re going to fight Lacy,” said Gracie.

This boxing match would be very risky for Diaz as a loss could not only hurt his future there, but it would certainly hurt his chances to fight St. Pierre.

The choice isn’t to the same extreme as James Toney stepping into the octagon, but Diaz is entering another world. His ability to strike with MMA opponents won’t be the same as fighting a man with the boxing skills that Lacy has.

Fighters, News, Strikeforce, UFC

boxing Dana White Georges St. Pierre Jeff Lacy Nick Diaz Strikeforce UFC

Tank Abbott: I can knock Brock Lesnar out in 10 seconds

May 6, 2011 / Drew Ellis

In the news out of Imaginary Land, Tank Abbott thinks he can knock out Brock Lesnar in 10 seconds.

Don’t believe me? Just listen to the man himself, courtesy of FightGameTV.com

Oh Tank.

Let’s not forget this is a guy that has a 10-14 career record and was submitted by Frank Mir from a toe hold.

Abbott could knock out Brock Lesnar if Lesnar stood still and let Tank get one clean shot. Other than that, it ain’t happening.

It would be like Royce Gracie saying he could submit Matt Hughes. Sure, if Hughes just laid on the ground like a dead fish. But, when the two actually got into the octagon together, it was another story.

Hey Tank, I think Tim Sylvia is looking for an opponent. Maybe you can still knock him out in a real fight.

Fighters, News, UFC, Videos

Brock Lesnar Frank Mir Matt Hughes Royce Gracie Tank Abbutt Tim Sylvia UFC

Aldo dealt with infection week of UFC 129

May 5, 2011 / Drew Ellis

null Something didn’t look right with Jose Aldo in his final round of his bout with Mark Hominick at UFC 129.

Apparently, there was something wrong.

In a report by Sherdog.com’s Gleidson Venga, Aldo was taking antibiotics during the week for a toe infection.

UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo was taking antibiotics for a toe infection just days before his April 30 title defense against Mark Hominick at UFC 129, Nova União leader Andre Pederneiras told Sherdog.com on Tuesday.
“He suffered a cut on his toe [on April 23] and it got infected with bacteria,” said Pederneiras. “He went through heavy medical treatment with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory pills from Sunday to Tuesday. He took the heavy dosage so that he wouldn’t have to take more drugs closer to the fight.”
Rumors that Aldo wasn’t feeling well began swirling during Friday’s “Super Seven” meeting in Toronto, when the Brazilian made an early exit from a Q&A session featuring all of the UFC’s current titlists.

Aldo actually looked strong early on as his striking was on point against Hominick and clearly he did a great deal of damage to Hominick’s face.

However, Aldo did stand more flat footed than he has in past fights, we eating punches he normally wouldn’t eat, and he had a terrible fifth round where he basically laid on his back and took a lot of punishment.

Perhaps Aldo didn’t have the energy to get off his back because of the infection and antibiotics, but he still did get a win and he still deserves to be one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world.

While the last round did raise questions about Aldo’s ability to fight off his back, if he wasn’t at 100 percent, that round may not be a good example.

Events, Fighters, News, UFC

Jose Aldo Mark Hominick UFC 129

St. Pierre’s camp likes GSP at the size he is

May 5, 2011 / Drew Ellis

It looks as if Georges St. Pierre may not be moving up to middleweight after all.

In an interview with ESPN.com, GSP’s trainer, Firas Zahabi, had this to say about St. Pierre putting on more weight for a move to 185 pounds.

“He’ll be very small for a middleweight,” Zahabi told ESPN. “If I balloon him up to over 200lbs, it won’t do any good. There’s a point where you can have too much muscle, and it’s not a good thing.
“I think he’s got the maximum amount you can put on his body without it starting to be detrimental.
“I’d probably push him up to 200lbs for that fight [with Silva],” said Zahabi, who saw GSP enter the Shields fight at around 193lbs. “He still wouldn’t be as big as Anderson and it wouldn’t be natural, but it would be better. If you do get on Anderson Silva, having any extra pounds on you is good.”
“If he goes up, I would recommend he stay the same size. You don’t want Georges to go in there bulked up and unable to perform in the mechanical way that he does.”

What Zahabi says makes sense. But if St. Pierre wants to be remembered as the best ever in MMA, he is going to have to take some chances in terms of fighting in other weight classes.

The only reasonable fight left for GSP in the welterweight division is Nick Diaz. But, after that, it wouldn’t help his legacy to fight the same guys over and over again.

Hopefully St. Pierre is not shying away from a super fight with Silva, as it could be the biggest fight in UFC history.

Fighters, News, UFC

Anderson Silva Firas Zahabi Georges St. Pierre Nick Diaz

Pettis still No. 1 contender in UFC Lightweight Division

May 4, 2011 / Drew Ellis

In some news that was swept under the rug this past weekend due to all the excitement of UFC 129, UFC President Dana White confirmed that final WEC Lightweight Champion, Anthony Pettis, is still the No. 1 contender for the UFC title.

The lightweight division in the UFC may be the most stacked of any and it is starting to get crowded at the top.

Pettis was originally scheduled to get a crack at the title following Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard’s title fight at UFC 125, but a draw left the whole division wondering what was next.

White scheduled a third bout between Edgar and Maynard, which takes place at UFC 130 on May 28. Following that contest, Pettis will be the new No. 1 contender according to MMAWeekly.com, who spoke with White.

“It’s Pettis,” UFC President Dana White confirmed when asked who would be getting the next crack at the championship.
The confirmation obviously gives Pettis extra motivation going into the June fight with Clay Guida. A win guarantees a title shot, likely towards the end of 2011.
Pettis won’t focus on the title shot at this time though because the business at hand is beating Guida. Without that, White’s declaration of his title shot doesn’t even matter.

Pettis meets Guida at the Ultimate Fighter Season 13 Finale on Saturday, June 4. It will be Pettis’ toughest test to date and his first bout in nearly six months.