Tag: UFC (Page 12 of 17)

UFC looking to use monitors for judges at UFC 130

April 26, 2011 / Drew Ellis

The judging system in MMA has long been debated and criticized over the years.

Now, with one of the most controversial bouts in UFC history set to have its rematch, the UFC is looking to avoid more controversy if at all possible

Ariel Helwani of MMAFighting reports that the UFC is looking to have monitors present for each of the judges at UFC 130, which takes place May 28 in Las Vegas.

The main event of UFC 130 is the third contest between UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar and challenger Gray Maynard. Their last contest at UFC 125 ended in a draw after 25 minutes of action.

Marc Ratner, the UFC’s Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, informed MMA Fighting that the organization has formally submitted a request to the Nevada State Athletic Commission to install monitors as a backup viewing option for the judges assigned to score the bouts at UFC 130.

“I’ve emailed [NSAC Executive Director] Keith [Kizer] and asked him to put the request on the next agenda. We believe these monitors will be another look to help with the judges,” Ratner wrote via e-mail.

According to the UFC, California is the only state to ever provide monitors for judges while scoring MMA bouts.

I am all for helping judges make better decisions and if this will do it, sign me up.

I think judging in general is a hard issue to tackle because everyone has a different view of a fight and the 10-point scoring system leaves the door open for questionable results.

I for one also scored the Edgar-Maynard II bout at UFC 125 as a draw, with Maynard taking round one 10-8 and Edgar winning three of the remaining four rounds 10-9.

Hopefully UFC 130 will bring some closure to this rivalry and allow the UFC to move on in its stacked lightweight division.

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Events, Fighters, News, UFC

Frankie Edgar Gray Maynard Keith Kizer UFC UFC 125 UFC 130

Silva: GSP fight is something that “must happen”

April 24, 2011 / Drew Ellis

Anderson Silva likes a challenge. Right now, his only challenge may be Georges St. Pierre.

The pound-for-pound king and reigning middleweight champion spoke to Mike Straka on his show “Fighting Words with Mike Straka” and had this to say about a potential superfight with GSP (courtesy of MMAJunkie.com):

“Georges St-Pierre is one of the best,” Silva said through an interpreter. “He’s shown that he’s a great athlete, and I really train hard everyday to fight the best. I do believe it’s a superfight, and it’s a fight that must happen someday.”

Both men still have one test in front of them for this fight to happen as GSP must get past Jake Shields next Saturday and Silva will now face Yushin Okami at UFC 134 in late August.

Both champions seem to be heavy favorites to win their fights but both of their opponents have the skills to pull off the upset.

Shields has the best submission grappling that St. Pierre has ever faced and Okami has the strength and wrestling background to get Silva to the ground.

If both champions win, it likely sets up the long-awaited GSP-Silva showdown around the end of 2011. It would be the biggest fight in UFC history and truly be the showcase of the top two fighters in all of MMA, in my opinion.

Fighters, News, UFC

Anderson Silva Georges St. Pierre Jake Shields UFC Yushin Okami

“Mayhem” Miller signs with UFC

April 22, 2011 / Drew Ellis

Let the jail break begin.

The first Strikeforce fighter to defect to the UFC since Zuffa purchased the rival company is middleweight Jason “Mayhem” Miller.

The news broke earlier today from Ariel Helwani at MMAFighting.com.

The 30-year-old Miller (24-7, 1 NC) was able to sign with the UFC due to the fact that his contract with Strikeforce had expired. No word just yet on when his first fight back inside the Octagon will take place.
“Mayhem” had not competed for Strikeforce since last April when he defeated Tim Stout on the undercard of Strikeforce: Nashville. He went on to defeat one of his MMA idols, Kazushi Sakuraba, at DREAM.16 in September, which stands as his last fight to date.
“I will beat the brakes off most of the guys in the middleweight divisions in the UFC,” he said. “I guaran-damn-tee it.”

Miller fought once previously in the UFC, at UFC 52 against Georges St. Pierre. GSP dominated Miller for three rounds to earn the decision.

This move is pretty intriguing as Miller was one of Strikeforce’s biggest names. While they can say his contract had run out, it seems like some string may have been pulled to make that happen.

Now the question is, when will more strings be pulled and whose strings will they be?

Fighters, News, Strikeforce, UFC

Georges St. Pierre Jason “Mayhem” Miller Strikeforce UFC

Brock Lesnar top paid MMA star

April 21, 2011 / Drew Ellis

In the world of not surprising news, ESPN released the list of top paid athletes in 30 different sports and Brock Lesnar was the top-paid MMA star of the last year.

Lesnar brought in $5.3 million according to the report, which factors in all the money he made through the UFC as part of base salary and earnings. That total doesn’t include endorsements, appearance fees, or sponsorship money.

Needless to say, Brock Lesnar is doing pretty well.

Some may argue that Lesnar shouldn’t be the highest-paid athlete in MMA, but the numbers back up the fact that he should. Lesnar’s PPV events do over $1 million buys, which put more money in the UFC’s pocket, thus putting more money in his pocket.

Love him or hate him, he is a draw, and the UFC is paying based on who will make them the most money, not just who is the best fighter.

Jon Fitch is a great fighter, but people aren’t lining up to see him fight on the main event of a card.

Lesnar made a base salary of $400,000 for his win over Shane Carwin at UFC 116, which means that he has some hefty bonuses and gate percentages in his contract.

On a side note, Lesnar ranked 12^th on this list of highest paid athletes in each sport, just edging women’s tennis star Kim Clijsters. Essentially that means that MMA ranks about 12^th on the pay scale of all sports.

While it is unknown just how much money most fighters make these days, it is clear that you can make a healthy living in MMA if you climb your way to the top and you are a polarizing figure.

Fighters, News, UFC

Brock Lesnar ESPN Jon Fitch Shane Carwin UFC

Top 10 Middleweight Rankings

April 20, 2011 / Drew Ellis

This week I turn my rankings to the middleweight division.

Really, the field is Anderson Silva and everyone else.

Still, here is my take. If you need to go back and find my pound-for-pound, heavyweight, or light heavyweight rankings, click on the links.

1. Anderson Silva (28-4) – Silva is my top fighter in any weight class, let alone middleweight. “The Spider” is like an artist in the cage. He rarely throws a strike that doesn’t land and he doesn’t waste energy while fighting. Everything he does has a purpose and thought to it. Chael Sonnen may have found a small hole in his game with his takedown defense, but he still managed to submit Sonnen and then bounce back with a devastating front kick to Vitor Belfort in the first round of his last title defense. Up next is Yushin Okami, had poses the right skill set to give Silva problems.

2. Chael Sonnen (25-11-1) – Sonnen is almost here by default. The other top guys in the group have either lost to him, or lost to someone that he has beaten. Sonnen is a grinder and a tremendous wrestler, but he has a clear weakness in his submission defense. Eight of his 11 losses have come by submission. Sonnen is also coming off a long layoff from a steroid suspension and legal issues. We will see if he can get back to being the fighter that nearly dethroned Silva.

Fighters, Strikeforce, UFC

Alan Belcher Anderson Silva Chael Sonnen Demian Maia Michael Bisping Middleweight Division Nate Marquardt Ronaldo Souza Strikeforce UFC Vitor Belfort Wanderlei Silva Yushin Okami