Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Thank you @cocacola korea
For the food pairing selections! couldn’t have done it without you!Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TracyLee/~3/sr6ghJNXTxE/thank-you-cocacola-korea.html
Live Video - UFC 146 "Dos Santos vs. Overeem" Press Conference From Las Vegas
By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
The UFC is holding a press conference this afternoon for the major heavyweight event in UFC 146 this May in Las Vegas. The press conference begins at 2PM ET, so stick right here with the embedded YouTube stream of the proceedings below:
Video URL: http://youtu.be/jJMahkRsrnk
The UFC is holding a press conference this afternoon for the major heavyweight event in UFC 146 this May in Las Vegas. The press conference begins at 2PM ET, so stick right here with the embedded YouTube stream of the proceedings below:
Video URL: http://youtu.be/jJMahkRsrnk
Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/quicknews/article_12887.shtml
Phil Davis: “Losing is not the worst thing in the world. The worst thing in the world is not getting better.”
Famed football coach Vince Lombardi once had a saying along the lines of, “Relentlessly pursue perfection and in the chase you may catch excellence.” The implication is that flawlessness is an ever-elusive creature but striving for the impossible while constantly attempting to improve can produce incredible results. UFC light heavyweight Phil Davis recently watched his [...]
Josh Neer draws Mike Pyle at UFC on FX 3
“The Dentist” appears destined to be in his office on June 8 with only a single appointment on his calendar – a visit from submission-savvy veteran Mike Pyle. According to an official announcement, Josh Neer will mix it up with Pyle at UFC on FX 3 as part of a card headlined by a bout [...]
Source: http://www.fighters.com/03/25/josh-neer-draws-mike-pyle-at-ufc-on-fx-3
Dan Miller dropping to welterweight for June fight against Ricardo Funch
Hard-nosed middleweight Dan Miller (13-6) will follow the lead of countless peers by making a move down divisionally in hopes of finding consistent success inside the Octagon. Were that news not enough, it looks like fans will find out exactly how he fares in his endeavor this summer at UFC on FX 4 against Ricardo [...]
Staph Infection Made Muhammed ‘King Mo’ Lawal Think Twice About Life
Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal has had a very trying year. Along with testing positive for a banned substance, Lawal has been forced to battle a deadly Staph infection that nearly took his life. Lawal, a former wrestling standout and ex-Strikeforce light heavyweight champion, talked with Ben Fowlkes of Sports Illustrated recently, where he discussed the [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mmaconvert/~3/T8NxHAlqzMA/
Ultimate Fighter 15 Recap: Another highlight reel KO moves Team Cruz to 2-0
The memory of Urijah Faber’s lone win over Dominick Cruz from their WEC days is quickly fading into yesteryear after Cruz, who beat Faber in a rematch last year, saw his squad on the Ultimate Fighter 15 improve to 2-0 on the season, leaving one of Faber’s picks on the wrong end of a sensational [...]
Tatsuya Kawajiri focused on featherweight future, not lightweight past
At one stage Tatsuya Kawajiri was considered to be the #1 lightweight in the world and he is unbeaten since dropping down to 145 pounds late last year. He is also a former Shooto welterweight champ and has fought for titles at Strikeforce and DREAM, coming up short on both occasions. While Kawajiri has already [...]
Source: http://www.fighters.com/03/26/tatsuya-kawajiri-focused-on-featherweight-future-not-lightweight-past
Jeff Big Frog Curran Dai Shuanghai Mac Danzig Karen Darabedyan
The Greatest Fights that Never Were: Bas Rutten vs. Igor Vovchanchyn
In this feature I’ll be taking a look at a hypothetical showdown featuring two of MMA’s greats that never came to fruition. This time around I’ll be looking at a potential fight between Bas Rutten and Igor Vovchanchyn, a pair of men who for the most part of their careers completely disregarded weight class and [...]
Source: http://www.fighters.com/03/21/greatest-fights-that-never-were-bas-rutten-vs-igor-vovcanchyn
Johnson vs. McCall rematch, Pague vs. Papazian set for UFC on FX 3
Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson and Ian “Uncle Creepy” McCall will look to settle what they started at UFC on FX 2 when they fought to a majority draw in the semifinal round of the four-man flyweight tournament. UFC officials announced that the rematch will take place on June 8th at a location which will be [...]
Johnson vs. McCall rematch, Pague vs. Papazian set for UFC on FX 3 is a post from: MMA Interplay UFC News
Mikey Burnett Murilo Bustamante Grant Campbell Gesias JZ Calvancante
Mark Munoz Laughs At Michael Bisping
Mark Munoz discusses his return, and laughs at the idea of Michael Bisping beating him in a fight. Thanks to the fine folks at Middleeasy for the video.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mmaconvert/~3/7aAGdH9dEt8/
Monday, March 26, 2012
2 Title Changes At TNA’s No Surrender PPV
Two title changes took place Sunday night at No Surrender as Winter regained the Women’s Knockout Championship from Mickie James while Austin Aries beat Brian Kendrick to capture the X Division Championship.
The title changes were forewarned prior to the event as a match line-up for the Sept. 23 TNA live event in Springfield, Illinois listed Aries as the X Division Champion and Winter as the Women’s Knockouts Champion. We reported both these title changes in our **SPOILER** report on Sunday afternoon.
Robert Roode defeated Bully Ray via pinfall to win the ...
The title changes were forewarned prior to the event as a match line-up for the Sept. 23 TNA live event in Springfield, Illinois listed Aries as the X Division Champion and Winter as the Women’s Knockouts Champion. We reported both these title changes in our **SPOILER** report on Sunday afternoon.
Robert Roode defeated Bully Ray via pinfall to win the ...
Source: http://www.ifight365.com/2011/09/2-title-changes-at-tnas-no-surrender-ppv/
Featherweight Junior Assuncao not interested in Bellator, expects to be back in the UFC soon
Typically when a fighter is cut by the UFC he’ll offer up a statement showing understanding with the company’s decision. However, when it came to featherweight Junior Assuncao’s release after a decision loss to Ross Pearson the 30-year old Brazilian expressed pure shock and vowed to get to the bottom of his sudden free agency. [...]
Dominick Cruz Mocks Urijah Faber’s TUF Freeze-Up
Dominick Cruz and a few other recognizable fighters re-enact Urijah Faber’s freeze-up from TUF: Live.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mmaconvert/~3/sPeQ89DjGgQ/
WALKER: Team Curran MMA Training Blog Week 2
By: Brad Walker, MMATorch Contributor
First, let me get started with some personal statistics. When I signed up for this gym, I was 318 pounds, and I stand with shoes on 6'5, without about 6'3. After my first week of training I finally jumped on a scale on my way out, and I was already down eight pounds to 310, not too shabby for a week. The gym has become a part of my daily routine, and it already feels very natural – even for a fat guy. Although the food selection in the area is like a mass of tiny little temptation demons, I for the most part have managed to stop eating out. Portillo's hasn't made that easy for me, but I have been coping.
This week for Muay Thai was learning the art of knees, and pairing up for some half speed striking with other members of the class. It seems a daunting task, but then again when you're training at a martial arts gym you should probably expect to at some point hit somebody. The pairings are usually made in fairness, the younger kids pair off, and the women square off, after all we are all trained as men that hitting a woman is wrong – I'm not sure if that counts when there's some women in a sparring session. Looking around a class of dedicated students, you realize one thing, everybody is actually absorbing these teachings, and with Jeff Curran and the other instructor Chuck dedicating so much time it makes it very easy. I'm not the most flexible guy on the planet, but watching them demonstrate makes me in the very least feel that I should attempt the strike.
Jiu-Jitsu had a bunch more tumbling going on to start off class, which my body is absolutely not designed to do; I see the demonstration and feel like I'm going to break something rolling onto a mat like that. The holds were well taught, and included managing your position from the top mount, and how to maneuver your opponent into a better position. Escaping a hold is not easy even on someone half your size, so I can't imagine how Big Nog felt trying to get Frank Mir off of his arm. The jiu-jitsu instructors are all under the umbrella of the great Pedro Sauer, and they are very thorough about teaching, observing and correcting it truly makes you more confident about what you're doing. There was also some demonstration and practice of how to properly execute a throw or two, and it was awfully fun to watch – perhaps not so much to be on the receiving end of.
The classes are timed perfectly so on any given day someone could take both, but with my intense lack of stamina I would die before the end of a second class. Muay Thai is probably more taxing in general than the jiu-jitsu just because of the exercise that is snuck in, and the jump ropes – good lord I hate jump ropes. I have become a huge fan of the treadmills in the gym for before or after classes as well, I generally do three miles, occasionally more, and I try to always burn a minimum of 500 calories. The second day I hit the treadmill I was halfway through my session and I was taking it nice and slow, walking at about three miles per hour when I heard the treadmill to my left start up. There was Bart Palaszewski running at full sprint for a good 15 minutes without breaking a sweat. Someday I hope to achieve the same ability – I probably won't but it would be pretty nifty.
Often times when I get on the treadmill the pro and amateur fighters are getting started on their training and sparring sessions, so there is always some live entertainment to go along with my iPod playlist. If you're wondering what I listen to when I'm on the treadmill the answer is simple; a 658 song playlist that I have already gotten tired of. The gym is sort of a place of comfort now for me, I don't feel out of place jumping into a class or hopping onto the treadmill because there's a true sense of community amongst the students. Nobody is the lesser being, and each person will lend a hand to the others when they are in need. It's a welcome vibe, and it really gets you excited to go out and learn with these other open minds.
I've gotten a lot of messages on twitter from people who have been somewhat inspired by my attempt to go out and get in shape, and some are still a little hesitant to make that move, so let me give you all an extra push. I have had psoriatic arthritis for 18 years now; I was diagnosed at the age of 10 when I was an all-star baseball, basketball and football player in the town where I grew up. I spent the next three years being pumped full of prednisone through an IV drip weekly, and it made me violently sick each and every time. Eventually I changed doctors because all the medical steroid was eating away at my stomach lining and just making my quality of life at that age garbage – and I was put on a number of anti inflammatory's which I am still on. I have had my knees drained, elbows drained, cortisone shots and undergone surgery on both knees and my right rotator cuff, yet here I am doing what I can to get in shape to make a better tomorrow.
It sounds like a sob story, but in the end I got real mature real fast from having to deal with things that you don't expect to mow you down when you're a kid. By the age of 15 I was back on the field, but in the end all the damage to my ligaments, tendons and even my bones was too much for my body to handle and I suffered a torn ACL on the football field, so I hung up my cleats back then. I am still affected by the arthritis, but since I have been coming to this gym to work out and learn, when I wake up in the morning my knees don't feel like they're fused together, I can jump out of bed. Carrying around 300+ pounds on a frame composed of non-fully functional joints is a major pain in the ass, and it's extremely unhealthy. That brings me back around to my motivation, and what helps me work through the pain and soreness in the gym, and this will hopefully motivate some of you to try the same.
Motivation is absolutely necessary in this environment, and I have the best motivation a man can ask for, and it's more than just learning. My amazing wife Jasmine and beautiful daughter Alisha were my original fuel to get up and do something to improve my overall health, but what really pushed me to the door was the pending birth of my second daughter Gabrielle who is due in April. When my daughter was born I was in the shape I am now, and I had a hard time keeping up with her and playing with her because my body was so hard to keep going for the whole day. Now I can play with her, wrestle, and chase her around – and I will be able to with my second daughter too. That's my motivation; to be the best father and husband I can be, and if that can motivate any of you out there reading this to do the same, then my training blog has already started serving its purpose.
Make sure to follow me on twitter; @BradMMATorch
Also follow Team Curran; @TeamCurranMMA
Thanks for reading everybody, and feel free to let me know your thoughts!
 |
This week for Muay Thai was learning the art of knees, and pairing up for some half speed striking with other members of the class. It seems a daunting task, but then again when you're training at a martial arts gym you should probably expect to at some point hit somebody. The pairings are usually made in fairness, the younger kids pair off, and the women square off, after all we are all trained as men that hitting a woman is wrong – I'm not sure if that counts when there's some women in a sparring session. Looking around a class of dedicated students, you realize one thing, everybody is actually absorbing these teachings, and with Jeff Curran and the other instructor Chuck dedicating so much time it makes it very easy. I'm not the most flexible guy on the planet, but watching them demonstrate makes me in the very least feel that I should attempt the strike.
Jiu-Jitsu had a bunch more tumbling going on to start off class, which my body is absolutely not designed to do; I see the demonstration and feel like I'm going to break something rolling onto a mat like that. The holds were well taught, and included managing your position from the top mount, and how to maneuver your opponent into a better position. Escaping a hold is not easy even on someone half your size, so I can't imagine how Big Nog felt trying to get Frank Mir off of his arm. The jiu-jitsu instructors are all under the umbrella of the great Pedro Sauer, and they are very thorough about teaching, observing and correcting it truly makes you more confident about what you're doing. There was also some demonstration and practice of how to properly execute a throw or two, and it was awfully fun to watch – perhaps not so much to be on the receiving end of.
The classes are timed perfectly so on any given day someone could take both, but with my intense lack of stamina I would die before the end of a second class. Muay Thai is probably more taxing in general than the jiu-jitsu just because of the exercise that is snuck in, and the jump ropes – good lord I hate jump ropes. I have become a huge fan of the treadmills in the gym for before or after classes as well, I generally do three miles, occasionally more, and I try to always burn a minimum of 500 calories. The second day I hit the treadmill I was halfway through my session and I was taking it nice and slow, walking at about three miles per hour when I heard the treadmill to my left start up. There was Bart Palaszewski running at full sprint for a good 15 minutes without breaking a sweat. Someday I hope to achieve the same ability – I probably won't but it would be pretty nifty.
Often times when I get on the treadmill the pro and amateur fighters are getting started on their training and sparring sessions, so there is always some live entertainment to go along with my iPod playlist. If you're wondering what I listen to when I'm on the treadmill the answer is simple; a 658 song playlist that I have already gotten tired of. The gym is sort of a place of comfort now for me, I don't feel out of place jumping into a class or hopping onto the treadmill because there's a true sense of community amongst the students. Nobody is the lesser being, and each person will lend a hand to the others when they are in need. It's a welcome vibe, and it really gets you excited to go out and learn with these other open minds.
I've gotten a lot of messages on twitter from people who have been somewhat inspired by my attempt to go out and get in shape, and some are still a little hesitant to make that move, so let me give you all an extra push. I have had psoriatic arthritis for 18 years now; I was diagnosed at the age of 10 when I was an all-star baseball, basketball and football player in the town where I grew up. I spent the next three years being pumped full of prednisone through an IV drip weekly, and it made me violently sick each and every time. Eventually I changed doctors because all the medical steroid was eating away at my stomach lining and just making my quality of life at that age garbage – and I was put on a number of anti inflammatory's which I am still on. I have had my knees drained, elbows drained, cortisone shots and undergone surgery on both knees and my right rotator cuff, yet here I am doing what I can to get in shape to make a better tomorrow.
It sounds like a sob story, but in the end I got real mature real fast from having to deal with things that you don't expect to mow you down when you're a kid. By the age of 15 I was back on the field, but in the end all the damage to my ligaments, tendons and even my bones was too much for my body to handle and I suffered a torn ACL on the football field, so I hung up my cleats back then. I am still affected by the arthritis, but since I have been coming to this gym to work out and learn, when I wake up in the morning my knees don't feel like they're fused together, I can jump out of bed. Carrying around 300+ pounds on a frame composed of non-fully functional joints is a major pain in the ass, and it's extremely unhealthy. That brings me back around to my motivation, and what helps me work through the pain and soreness in the gym, and this will hopefully motivate some of you to try the same.
Motivation is absolutely necessary in this environment, and I have the best motivation a man can ask for, and it's more than just learning. My amazing wife Jasmine and beautiful daughter Alisha were my original fuel to get up and do something to improve my overall health, but what really pushed me to the door was the pending birth of my second daughter Gabrielle who is due in April. When my daughter was born I was in the shape I am now, and I had a hard time keeping up with her and playing with her because my body was so hard to keep going for the whole day. Now I can play with her, wrestle, and chase her around – and I will be able to with my second daughter too. That's my motivation; to be the best father and husband I can be, and if that can motivate any of you out there reading this to do the same, then my training blog has already started serving its purpose.
Make sure to follow me on twitter; @BradMMATorch
Also follow Team Curran; @TeamCurranMMA
Thanks for reading everybody, and feel free to let me know your thoughts!
Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/Staff_Editorials_19/article_12851.shtml
Joseph Benavidez Says He Plans Fights That Are “Exciting, Non-Stop Aggression”
Joseph Benavidez would rather be preparing to face either Demetrious Johnson or Ian McCall for the right to be called the first-ever UFC flyweight champion. Instead, Benavidez will have to wait a little while longer after all the scoring troubles that came about from the Johnson-McCall match. Those will will face off on June 8, [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mmaconvert/~3/kj4HEH0pxpY/
Mike Pierce paired with Carlos Eduardo Rocha at UFC on FX 3
Talented UFC welterweight Mike Pierce openly expressed his desire to face a Brazilian adversary in his next bout, questioning the nation’s ability to produce well-rounded competitors in the process, and has apparently gotten his wish in the form of a fight against Carlos Eduardo Rocha. Though not officially announced, it is expected the two will [...]
Source: http://www.fighters.com/03/20/mike-pierce-paired-with-carlos-eduardo-rocha-at-ufc-on-fx-3
Dan The Sandman Christison Logan The Pink Pounder Clark Steve The Snake Claveau Rich No Love Clementi
Dan Henderson........ Waiting
I woke up today to read the Dan Henderson Believed he would be bumped ahead of Rashad Evans in the title line. He stated he thought because Rashad...
Source: http://www.mmaforum.com/ufc/100745-dan-henderson-waiting.html
The Greatest Fights that Never Were: Bas Rutten vs. Igor Vovchanchyn
In this feature I’ll be taking a look at a hypothetical showdown featuring two of MMA’s greats that never came to fruition. This time around I’ll be looking at a potential fight between Bas Rutten and Igor Vovchanchyn, a pair of men who for the most part of their careers completely disregarded weight class and [...]
Source: http://www.fighters.com/03/21/greatest-fights-that-never-were-bas-rutten-vs-igor-vovcanchyn
Ryo Piranha Chonan Dan The Sandman Christison Logan The Pink Pounder Clark Steve The Snake Claveau
Bellator 62: Lloyd Woodard vs. Patricky Pitbull – Full Fight Video
The Bellator season six lightweight tournament quarterfinal round took place yesterday at the Laredo Energy Arena in Texas. Lloyd “Cupcake” Woodard and Patricky “Pitbull” Freire were both competitors in last seasons tournament but they both fell to eventual tournament winner Michael Chandler. Woodard and Freire would meet last night in the first step to earning [...]
Bellator 62: Lloyd Woodard vs. Patricky Pitbull – Full Fight Video is a post from: MMA Interplay UFC News
Jimy Hettes vs. Steven Siler slated for UFC on FX 4
UFC officials announced that up-and-coming featherweights Jimy Hettes and Steven Siler will square off on June 22nd as part of the UFC on FX 4 card in Atlantic City. Both fighters are coming off of back-to-back wins. Siler (20-9) was a member of Team Miller on Season 14 of The Ultimate Fighter. He defeated Josh [...]
Jimy Hettes vs. Steven Siler slated for UFC on FX 4 is a post from: MMA Interplay UFC News
Source: http://www.mmainterplay.com/ufc-news/jimy-hettes-vs-steven-siler-slated-for-ufc-on-fx-4-57566/
Sunday, March 25, 2012
‘Bellator 62′ Live Results
“Bellator 62” is officially jumping off inside Laredo Energy Arena in Laredo, Texas. Spike.com kicks off tonight’s festivities by streaming a handful of preliminary bouts live at 7PM ET/4PM PT. MTV2 will then broadcast the card’s main fights starting at 8PM ET/PT. Eric Prindle and Thiago Santos were scheduled to headline the show, but Santos [...]
Source: http://www.5thRound.com/109929/bellator-62-live-results-2/
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira hoping for June fight with Rich Franklin
If all had gone according to plan, UFC light heavyweight Antonio Rogerio Nogueira would be in the midst of preparing to face Alexander Gustafsson in the main event of April’s UFC on Fuel 2 lineup. However, things rarely run smoothly in a sport with as much risk as MMA. After injuring his knee while training [...]
Source: http://www.fighters.com/03/16/antonio-rogerio-nogueira-hoping-for-june-fight-with-rich-franklin
Muhammed Lawal contemplated giving up on recovery during infection ordeal
High-level fighters are generally prepared for any challenge they face whether in the ring or outside of it, as a certain level of mental toughness created by years upon years of grinding in the gym and absorbing damage in a sport predicated on physical contact. However, when it comes to the battle Strikeforce light heavyweight [...]
Ebenezer Fontes Braga Chris Brennan Marcelo Brito Rob Broughton
TUF 15 Results: Dominick Cruz leaves Team Faber rattled in debut episode
With the sixteen men set to compete for the Ultimate Fighter 15 crown in place thanks to an action-packed opening round featuring all of the qualifying fights, the popular reality show returned to a more-familiar format on Friday night with a single match-up coming after an episode’s worth of highlights from the house/gym. The episode [...]
50-Year-Old Mo Smith Still Going Strong; Plans to Go Out on Own Terms
---Quote---
At 50 years old, former UFC heavyweight champion Maurice “Mo” Smith is still going strong, even if he has been out of the active fight...
At 50 years old, former UFC heavyweight champion Maurice “Mo” Smith is still going strong, even if he has been out of the active fight...
Wagnney Fabiano Kevin Kimbo Slice Ferguson Paulo Filho Mirko Cro Cop Filipović
UFC President Dana White calls soccer the "least-talented sport on Earth"
By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Chael Sonnen may have made his fair share of enemies in Brazil with his comments about the country, but UFC President Dana White may be getting his own set of boos when the organization returns after some comments he made to the Calgary Sun on Wednesday.
During a question and answer session with the paper, he was asked about his thoughts on fighting in hockey, but he then turned that into a denouncing of Brazil's favorite sport: soccer.
"I'm not a big hockey fan. But I respect how talented you have to be to play hockey," White began.
"Soccer? That's a whole other ball. Can't stand soccer. It's the least-talented sport on Earth. There's a reason three-year-olds can play soccer. When you're playing a game when the net is that big and the score is 3-1 [and that's a blowout] are you kidding me? You know how untalented you have to be to score three times when the net is that big?"
"Now back to hockey," he continued. "You have guys on skates with crooked sticks and you have to hit a puck into a net that's the same size as the goalie. And at any time someone could take your head right off your shoulders and it's perfectly legal. That's a real sport that takes real talent, speed and all the things you need to be a real athlete."
"Now fighting is a part of hockey and has been since Day 1. It's part of the game. It is what it is. I think we live in a world now where everything has been so pussy-fied. When I grew up we didn't wear helmets when we rode our bikes. We didn't have car seats. We didn't have all this stuff. Now things are safer and we should be safer but let's not go overboard. Fighting's a part of hockey. Period."
Penick's Analysis: There's a certain irony about White lambasting a sport he knows little about simply because he dislikes it. That's the exact issue the UFC and MMA in general faces from those that either don't understand, or don't care to understand the sport, and rip into it because they don't like it. Considering the level of "athlete" the UFC employs at the lowest levels of each of their divisions, it's laughable that he'd go after the talent it takes to play that sport. I've never been a soccer player, and I'm not much of a fan of watching the sport, but to say that it's the "least-talented" is completely ridiculous, and he'll rightfully be lambasted across the web for these comments.
 |
During a question and answer session with the paper, he was asked about his thoughts on fighting in hockey, but he then turned that into a denouncing of Brazil's favorite sport: soccer.
"I'm not a big hockey fan. But I respect how talented you have to be to play hockey," White began.
"Soccer? That's a whole other ball. Can't stand soccer. It's the least-talented sport on Earth. There's a reason three-year-olds can play soccer. When you're playing a game when the net is that big and the score is 3-1 [and that's a blowout] are you kidding me? You know how untalented you have to be to score three times when the net is that big?"
"Now back to hockey," he continued. "You have guys on skates with crooked sticks and you have to hit a puck into a net that's the same size as the goalie. And at any time someone could take your head right off your shoulders and it's perfectly legal. That's a real sport that takes real talent, speed and all the things you need to be a real athlete."
"Now fighting is a part of hockey and has been since Day 1. It's part of the game. It is what it is. I think we live in a world now where everything has been so pussy-fied. When I grew up we didn't wear helmets when we rode our bikes. We didn't have car seats. We didn't have all this stuff. Now things are safer and we should be safer but let's not go overboard. Fighting's a part of hockey. Period."
Penick's Analysis: There's a certain irony about White lambasting a sport he knows little about simply because he dislikes it. That's the exact issue the UFC and MMA in general faces from those that either don't understand, or don't care to understand the sport, and rip into it because they don't like it. Considering the level of "athlete" the UFC employs at the lowest levels of each of their divisions, it's laughable that he'd go after the talent it takes to play that sport. I've never been a soccer player, and I'm not much of a fan of watching the sport, but to say that it's the "least-talented" is completely ridiculous, and he'll rightfully be lambasted across the web for these comments.
Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_12849.shtml
Mike Tyson gives his two cents on potential Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight
When Mike Tyson talks, people listen. The iconic boxer has never been afraid to share his opinion on any given matter, and though he’s certainly has a number of ridiculous soundbytes attached to his name, he also has an equal number of intelligent insights to his credit on the sport and life in general. Recently [...]
Alert for Android MMATorch Users: Please read as you may need to get new version of MMATorch
If you are using an Android Device, and if you are using our "classic" original version of MMATorch, we need you to migrate to our newer version as the "classic" version will be discontinued soon. Please click on the link below to download our latest version.
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.mmatorch2.android
If you phone tells you you've already downloaded this version, then you already have it and are using it. If it gives you the option to download it, you are likely using the older version that will soon stop being supported and updated.
This newer version of MMATorch is faster, more stable, and features a better layout than the original version.
If you have a "very old" Android phone running an early version of Android, please update your Android OS so the new version of MMATorch works. Our data shows fewer than 2 percent of you are running an old version of Android, so for most of you this upgraded version of MMATorch will work immediately and you'll fine it a better overall experience due to the upgrades and updates compared to the classic version you may be using.
(HINT: If the headline of this article at the top of the page that says "Alert for Android..." is white letters on a black background, you are running the new version of MMATorch and don't need to migrate. If the headline is black letters over white background, you have the older version and you need to update.)
Also, if you are using the latest version of MMATorch, we have updating the app to eliminate the need to choose a category from the menu at launch. Please manually update the app if you don't have this app set to update automatically.
If you have any questions or concerns, please email us at mmatorch@gmail.com.
Thanks for your support of MMATorch!
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.mmatorch2.android
If you phone tells you you've already downloaded this version, then you already have it and are using it. If it gives you the option to download it, you are likely using the older version that will soon stop being supported and updated.
This newer version of MMATorch is faster, more stable, and features a better layout than the original version.
If you have a "very old" Android phone running an early version of Android, please update your Android OS so the new version of MMATorch works. Our data shows fewer than 2 percent of you are running an old version of Android, so for most of you this upgraded version of MMATorch will work immediately and you'll fine it a better overall experience due to the upgrades and updates compared to the classic version you may be using.
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Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/mmatorchappalert/article_12221.shtml
Hockey Fight of the Day: Brad Staubitz vs. Chris Neil
As the saying goes, “Revenge is a dish best served cold.” Unfortunately for the Montreal Canadiens’ Brad Staubitz, hockey happens to be played on ice and he ran into an angry Chris Neil who didn’t take kindly to a hit Staubitz laid on one of his Ottawa Senators’ teammates. Tweet
Source: http://www.fighters.com/03/17/hockey-fight-of-the-day-brad-staubitz-vs-chris-neil
Kit Cope Wesley Cabbage Correira Patrick The Predator Côté Randy The Natural Couture
WALKER: Team Curran MMA Training Blog Week 2
By: Brad Walker, MMATorch Contributor
First, let me get started with some personal statistics. When I signed up for this gym, I was 318 pounds, and I stand with shoes on 6'5, without about 6'3. After my first week of training I finally jumped on a scale on my way out, and I was already down eight pounds to 310, not too shabby for a week. The gym has become a part of my daily routine, and it already feels very natural – even for a fat guy. Although the food selection in the area is like a mass of tiny little temptation demons, I for the most part have managed to stop eating out. Portillo's hasn't made that easy for me, but I have been coping.
This week for Muay Thai was learning the art of knees, and pairing up for some half speed striking with other members of the class. It seems a daunting task, but then again when you're training at a martial arts gym you should probably expect to at some point hit somebody. The pairings are usually made in fairness, the younger kids pair off, and the women square off, after all we are all trained as men that hitting a woman is wrong – I'm not sure if that counts when there's some women in a sparring session. Looking around a class of dedicated students, you realize one thing, everybody is actually absorbing these teachings, and with Jeff Curran and the other instructor Chuck dedicating so much time it makes it very easy. I'm not the most flexible guy on the planet, but watching them demonstrate makes me in the very least feel that I should attempt the strike.
Jiu-Jitsu had a bunch more tumbling going on to start off class, which my body is absolutely not designed to do; I see the demonstration and feel like I'm going to break something rolling onto a mat like that. The holds were well taught, and included managing your position from the top mount, and how to maneuver your opponent into a better position. Escaping a hold is not easy even on someone half your size, so I can't imagine how Big Nog felt trying to get Frank Mir off of his arm. The jiu-jitsu instructors are all under the umbrella of the great Pedro Sauer, and they are very thorough about teaching, observing and correcting it truly makes you more confident about what you're doing. There was also some demonstration and practice of how to properly execute a throw or two, and it was awfully fun to watch – perhaps not so much to be on the receiving end of.
The classes are timed perfectly so on any given day someone could take both, but with my intense lack of stamina I would die before the end of a second class. Muay Thai is probably more taxing in general than the jiu-jitsu just because of the exercise that is snuck in, and the jump ropes – good lord I hate jump ropes. I have become a huge fan of the treadmills in the gym for before or after classes as well, I generally do three miles, occasionally more, and I try to always burn a minimum of 500 calories. The second day I hit the treadmill I was halfway through my session and I was taking it nice and slow, walking at about three miles per hour when I heard the treadmill to my left start up. There was Bart Palaszewski running at full sprint for a good 15 minutes without breaking a sweat. Someday I hope to achieve the same ability – I probably won't but it would be pretty nifty.
Often times when I get on the treadmill the pro and amateur fighters are getting started on their training and sparring sessions, so there is always some live entertainment to go along with my iPod playlist. If you're wondering what I listen to when I'm on the treadmill the answer is simple; a 658 song playlist that I have already gotten tired of. The gym is sort of a place of comfort now for me, I don't feel out of place jumping into a class or hopping onto the treadmill because there's a true sense of community amongst the students. Nobody is the lesser being, and each person will lend a hand to the others when they are in need. It's a welcome vibe, and it really gets you excited to go out and learn with these other open minds.
I've gotten a lot of messages on twitter from people who have been somewhat inspired by my attempt to go out and get in shape, and some are still a little hesitant to make that move, so let me give you all an extra push. I have had psoriatic arthritis for 18 years now; I was diagnosed at the age of 10 when I was an all-star baseball, basketball and football player in the town where I grew up. I spent the next three years being pumped full of prednisone through an IV drip weekly, and it made me violently sick each and every time. Eventually I changed doctors because all the medical steroid was eating away at my stomach lining and just making my quality of life at that age garbage – and I was put on a number of anti inflammatory's which I am still on. I have had my knees drained, elbows drained, cortisone shots and undergone surgery on both knees and my right rotator cuff, yet here I am doing what I can to get in shape to make a better tomorrow.
It sounds like a sob story, but in the end I got real mature real fast from having to deal with things that you don't expect to mow you down when you're a kid. By the age of 15 I was back on the field, but in the end all the damage to my ligaments, tendons and even my bones was too much for my body to handle and I suffered a torn ACL on the football field, so I hung up my cleats back then. I am still affected by the arthritis, but since I have been coming to this gym to work out and learn, when I wake up in the morning my knees don't feel like they're fused together, I can jump out of bed. Carrying around 300+ pounds on a frame composed of non-fully functional joints is a major pain in the ass, and it's extremely unhealthy. That brings me back around to my motivation, and what helps me work through the pain and soreness in the gym, and this will hopefully motivate some of you to try the same.
Motivation is absolutely necessary in this environment, and I have the best motivation a man can ask for, and it's more than just learning. My amazing wife Jasmine and beautiful daughter Alisha were my original fuel to get up and do something to improve my overall health, but what really pushed me to the door was the pending birth of my second daughter Gabrielle who is due in April. When my daughter was born I was in the shape I am now, and I had a hard time keeping up with her and playing with her because my body was so hard to keep going for the whole day. Now I can play with her, wrestle, and chase her around – and I will be able to with my second daughter too. That's my motivation; to be the best father and husband I can be, and if that can motivate any of you out there reading this to do the same, then my training blog has already started serving its purpose.
Make sure to follow me on twitter; @BradMMATorch
Also follow Team Curran; @TeamCurranMMA
Thanks for reading everybody, and feel free to let me know your thoughts!
| |
This week for Muay Thai was learning the art of knees, and pairing up for some half speed striking with other members of the class. It seems a daunting task, but then again when you're training at a martial arts gym you should probably expect to at some point hit somebody. The pairings are usually made in fairness, the younger kids pair off, and the women square off, after all we are all trained as men that hitting a woman is wrong – I'm not sure if that counts when there's some women in a sparring session. Looking around a class of dedicated students, you realize one thing, everybody is actually absorbing these teachings, and with Jeff Curran and the other instructor Chuck dedicating so much time it makes it very easy. I'm not the most flexible guy on the planet, but watching them demonstrate makes me in the very least feel that I should attempt the strike.
Jiu-Jitsu had a bunch more tumbling going on to start off class, which my body is absolutely not designed to do; I see the demonstration and feel like I'm going to break something rolling onto a mat like that. The holds were well taught, and included managing your position from the top mount, and how to maneuver your opponent into a better position. Escaping a hold is not easy even on someone half your size, so I can't imagine how Big Nog felt trying to get Frank Mir off of his arm. The jiu-jitsu instructors are all under the umbrella of the great Pedro Sauer, and they are very thorough about teaching, observing and correcting it truly makes you more confident about what you're doing. There was also some demonstration and practice of how to properly execute a throw or two, and it was awfully fun to watch – perhaps not so much to be on the receiving end of.
The classes are timed perfectly so on any given day someone could take both, but with my intense lack of stamina I would die before the end of a second class. Muay Thai is probably more taxing in general than the jiu-jitsu just because of the exercise that is snuck in, and the jump ropes – good lord I hate jump ropes. I have become a huge fan of the treadmills in the gym for before or after classes as well, I generally do three miles, occasionally more, and I try to always burn a minimum of 500 calories. The second day I hit the treadmill I was halfway through my session and I was taking it nice and slow, walking at about three miles per hour when I heard the treadmill to my left start up. There was Bart Palaszewski running at full sprint for a good 15 minutes without breaking a sweat. Someday I hope to achieve the same ability – I probably won't but it would be pretty nifty.
Often times when I get on the treadmill the pro and amateur fighters are getting started on their training and sparring sessions, so there is always some live entertainment to go along with my iPod playlist. If you're wondering what I listen to when I'm on the treadmill the answer is simple; a 658 song playlist that I have already gotten tired of. The gym is sort of a place of comfort now for me, I don't feel out of place jumping into a class or hopping onto the treadmill because there's a true sense of community amongst the students. Nobody is the lesser being, and each person will lend a hand to the others when they are in need. It's a welcome vibe, and it really gets you excited to go out and learn with these other open minds.
I've gotten a lot of messages on twitter from people who have been somewhat inspired by my attempt to go out and get in shape, and some are still a little hesitant to make that move, so let me give you all an extra push. I have had psoriatic arthritis for 18 years now; I was diagnosed at the age of 10 when I was an all-star baseball, basketball and football player in the town where I grew up. I spent the next three years being pumped full of prednisone through an IV drip weekly, and it made me violently sick each and every time. Eventually I changed doctors because all the medical steroid was eating away at my stomach lining and just making my quality of life at that age garbage – and I was put on a number of anti inflammatory's which I am still on. I have had my knees drained, elbows drained, cortisone shots and undergone surgery on both knees and my right rotator cuff, yet here I am doing what I can to get in shape to make a better tomorrow.
It sounds like a sob story, but in the end I got real mature real fast from having to deal with things that you don't expect to mow you down when you're a kid. By the age of 15 I was back on the field, but in the end all the damage to my ligaments, tendons and even my bones was too much for my body to handle and I suffered a torn ACL on the football field, so I hung up my cleats back then. I am still affected by the arthritis, but since I have been coming to this gym to work out and learn, when I wake up in the morning my knees don't feel like they're fused together, I can jump out of bed. Carrying around 300+ pounds on a frame composed of non-fully functional joints is a major pain in the ass, and it's extremely unhealthy. That brings me back around to my motivation, and what helps me work through the pain and soreness in the gym, and this will hopefully motivate some of you to try the same.
Motivation is absolutely necessary in this environment, and I have the best motivation a man can ask for, and it's more than just learning. My amazing wife Jasmine and beautiful daughter Alisha were my original fuel to get up and do something to improve my overall health, but what really pushed me to the door was the pending birth of my second daughter Gabrielle who is due in April. When my daughter was born I was in the shape I am now, and I had a hard time keeping up with her and playing with her because my body was so hard to keep going for the whole day. Now I can play with her, wrestle, and chase her around – and I will be able to with my second daughter too. That's my motivation; to be the best father and husband I can be, and if that can motivate any of you out there reading this to do the same, then my training blog has already started serving its purpose.
Make sure to follow me on twitter; @BradMMATorch
Also follow Team Curran; @TeamCurranMMA
Thanks for reading everybody, and feel free to let me know your thoughts!
Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/Staff_Editorials_19/article_12851.shtml
Dana White says Dan Henderson turned down rematch with "Shogun" Rua for UFC 149 in Calgary
By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
During Wednesday's UFC press conference in Calgary to announce the first event in the city, UFC President Dana White said he was trying to work on a co-main event that would "blow fans away." However, it appears he may have been unsuccessful in that venture, at least for now.
According to Mauro Ranallo, Showtime announcer and host of The MMA Show, White said the bout he was attempting to put together was a rematch between Dan Henderson and Mauricio "Shogun" Rua. However, per White, Henderson turned the bout down.
Henderson has been sitting on the sidelines since a decision win over Rua in November in an epic five round fight. He had clear control through the first three rounds, but a massive comeback by Rua led many to believe he should have gotten a draw at the least in the fight. The decision went to Henderson, though, and he's waiting out the April fight between Jon Jones and Rashad Evans in hopes of facing the winner for the UFC Light Heavyweight Title.
The UFC said recently that Shogun would be Rampage Jackson's next and final UFC opponent, but with Jackson saying he is going to need surgery on both of his knees, he won't be available for a return by July. For now, Shogun remains without an opponent, but he may still wind up on this card.
Penick's Analysis: While a rematch of a massively close and incredibly exciting fight would have been highly entertaining, there are a couple of issues with putting it on this card, and it makes perfect sense that Henderson would turn it down. Firstly, as a co-main event, it would likely only be a three round bout. Considering their last fight was a five-round epic, giving it only three rounds in the rematch wouldn't be nearly as huge. Second, Henderson will likely be in line to fight for the Light Heavyweight belt by August. Jones and Evans fight just next month, and the Calgary event isn't until late July. Jones has said he wants to stay busy, and if he defeats Evans, August would be a four month break and would allow him to still get one more fight in during the year if he wanted to do so. With Henderson lined up for that fight, it's perfectly understandable for him to skip out on this rematch. I'm not sure why the UFC thought he'd go for it in the first place, but we'll see who they book Shogun against now that Rampage and Henderson are off the table.
[Dan Henderson art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
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According to Mauro Ranallo, Showtime announcer and host of The MMA Show, White said the bout he was attempting to put together was a rematch between Dan Henderson and Mauricio "Shogun" Rua. However, per White, Henderson turned the bout down.
Henderson has been sitting on the sidelines since a decision win over Rua in November in an epic five round fight. He had clear control through the first three rounds, but a massive comeback by Rua led many to believe he should have gotten a draw at the least in the fight. The decision went to Henderson, though, and he's waiting out the April fight between Jon Jones and Rashad Evans in hopes of facing the winner for the UFC Light Heavyweight Title.
The UFC said recently that Shogun would be Rampage Jackson's next and final UFC opponent, but with Jackson saying he is going to need surgery on both of his knees, he won't be available for a return by July. For now, Shogun remains without an opponent, but he may still wind up on this card.
Penick's Analysis: While a rematch of a massively close and incredibly exciting fight would have been highly entertaining, there are a couple of issues with putting it on this card, and it makes perfect sense that Henderson would turn it down. Firstly, as a co-main event, it would likely only be a three round bout. Considering their last fight was a five-round epic, giving it only three rounds in the rematch wouldn't be nearly as huge. Second, Henderson will likely be in line to fight for the Light Heavyweight belt by August. Jones and Evans fight just next month, and the Calgary event isn't until late July. Jones has said he wants to stay busy, and if he defeats Evans, August would be a four month break and would allow him to still get one more fight in during the year if he wanted to do so. With Henderson lined up for that fight, it's perfectly understandable for him to skip out on this rematch. I'm not sure why the UFC thought he'd go for it in the first place, but we'll see who they book Shogun against now that Rampage and Henderson are off the table.
[Dan Henderson art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_12842.shtml
Saturday, March 24, 2012
UFC 146 "Dos Santos vs. Overeem" press conference free and open to public on Tuesday in Las Vegas, tickets on sale next week
By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
The UFC is putting on one of their biggest events ever this May, with an all-heavyweight main card taking place in Las Vegas on Memorial Day weekend. The UFC 146 card is headlined by a massive Heavyweight Championship bout between Alistair Overeem and Junior dos Santos, and the UFC will kick things off for the card with a press conference in Las Vegas next week.
On Tuesday, March 27, the UFC will hold the first press conference for the card at 11AM PT from the MGM Grand Hotel Lobby. The press conference is free and open to the public.
"Our Memorial Day weekend events in Las Vegas are always big, but Junior dos Santos vs. Alistair Overeem is one of the most exciting heavyweight fights ever!" UFC President Dana White said of the main event. "The all-heavyweight main card features five guys ranked in the top 10. This is the most heavyweights on a UFC card in history. You don’t want to miss this!"
Tickets for the card will go on sale on to the general public next Friday, March 30, and range from $75-$800. UFC Fight Club members get the first crack at tickets with a presale on Wednesday, while UFC Newsletter subscribers get a presale on Thursday.
Penick's Analysis: It will be interesting to see the first interactions between dos Santos and Overeem at this press conference. It's sure to be respectful, as neither fighter is overtly confrontational or disrespectful, but how they interact with each other for the first time in public will set the tone for the next couple of months of build up. It's a fantastic heavyweight fight, and really this card features a bunch of really good heavyweight action. It's going to be a major, major event, without a doubt.
[Alistair Overeem art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
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On Tuesday, March 27, the UFC will hold the first press conference for the card at 11AM PT from the MGM Grand Hotel Lobby. The press conference is free and open to the public.
"Our Memorial Day weekend events in Las Vegas are always big, but Junior dos Santos vs. Alistair Overeem is one of the most exciting heavyweight fights ever!" UFC President Dana White said of the main event. "The all-heavyweight main card features five guys ranked in the top 10. This is the most heavyweights on a UFC card in history. You don’t want to miss this!"
Tickets for the card will go on sale on to the general public next Friday, March 30, and range from $75-$800. UFC Fight Club members get the first crack at tickets with a presale on Wednesday, while UFC Newsletter subscribers get a presale on Thursday.
Penick's Analysis: It will be interesting to see the first interactions between dos Santos and Overeem at this press conference. It's sure to be respectful, as neither fighter is overtly confrontational or disrespectful, but how they interact with each other for the first time in public will set the tone for the next couple of months of build up. It's a fantastic heavyweight fight, and really this card features a bunch of really good heavyweight action. It's going to be a major, major event, without a doubt.
[Alistair Overeem art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_12856.shtml
Bernard Ackah Terrance Aflague Yoshihiro Akiyama Gilbert Aldana
Hockey Fight of the Day: Jared Cowen vs. Petteri Nokelainen
Not every fight on the ice is a competitive clash. While there’s no question every individual in the NHL is tough, some are more hardened than others as you’ll see in this clip from last night’s game between the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens where Jared Cowan made a clear statement to future challengers by [...]
Source: http://www.fighters.com/03/15/hockey-fight-of-the-day-jared-cowen-vs-petteri-nokelainen
Houston Alexander vs. Gilbert Yvel
---Quote---
With four wins in his last seven fights since leaving the UFC in 2009, Houston “The Assassin” Alexander feels he’s making steps in the...
With four wins in his last seven fights since leaving the UFC in 2009, Houston “The Assassin” Alexander feels he’s making steps in the...
Source: http://www.mmaforum.com/general-mma-discussion/100717-houston-alexander-vs-gilbert-yvel.html
Demian Maia dropping down to welterweight
After a solid run at 185 pounds it looks like submission-specialist Demian Maia will be mixing it up as a welterweight for the foreseeable future, opting to compete against opponents closer to him in overall size than those entering with a noticeable strength advantage. Maia made the announcement by way of Twitter where he wrote, [...]
Source: http://www.fighters.com/03/18/demian-maia-dropping-down-to-welterweight
Hockey Fight of the Day: Brad Staubitz vs. Chris Neil
As the saying goes, “Revenge is a dish best served cold.” Unfortunately for the Montreal Canadiens’ Brad Staubitz, hockey happens to be played on ice and he ran into an angry Chris Neil who didn’t take kindly to a hit Staubitz laid on one of his Ottawa Senators’ teammates. Tweet
Source: http://www.fighters.com/03/17/hockey-fight-of-the-day-brad-staubitz-vs-chris-neil
Masakatsu Funaki Zelg Benkei Galesić Mauro Galvao Arman Gambaryan
Chael Sonnen passionately defends testosterone use
After Quinton Jackson’s recent admission of using testosterone to help him heal from an injured knee that would have otherwise kept him out of a scheduled bout with Ryan Bader, the debate on TRT has heated back up with Chael Sonnen serving as an unofficial spokesman on the controversial therapy. Sonnen’s link to testosterone replacement [...]
Source: http://www.fighters.com/03/16/chael-sonnen-passionately-defends-testosterone-use
Scott Jorgensen scrapping with Eddie Wineland this summer
An important fight in the bantamweight division has been booked for June 8 at UFC on FX 3, as WEC stand-outs Scott Jorgensen and Eddie Wineland will meet on the main card with a result where each will look to avoid a dreaded losing streak in an ever-growing division. The UFC announced to match-up on [...]
Source: http://www.fighters.com/03/24/scott-jorgensen-scrapping-with-eddie-wineland-this-summer
Brian Ebersole lashes out at Josh Koscheck over negative AKA comments in split
By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Josh Koscheck recently split from his longtime home at the American Kicboxing Academy, and has publicly aired his dirty laundry by going after head coach and trainer Javier Mendez in several interviews. That hasn't sat well with many who have been affiliated with the gym in the past, and in an interview with VigilanteMMA, former AKA member - and UFC welterweight - Brian Ebersole fired back at his former teammate.
"I’m not alone in thinking he’s a dick," Ebersole said. "I revisited AKA a time or two since I’d moved to Australia. The first time, I came off of a 14-hour flight and went straight to the gym. I announced that I had a fairly serious neck injury. I had a decent spar with Fitch, who held me down and beat me up, but kept a respectable speed/intensity. But Koscheck acted like I was standing in the way of him and a paycheck. And socially, he was very abrasive per usual."
Ebersole came to the defense of the coaching staff as well, and ripped into Koscheck's special treatment while he was at the gym until 2005.
"Josh came out to AKA in 2004, but he didn’t come straight out to live in San Jose," Ebersole explained. "He immediately settled into Fresno, where our manager lived in a mansion, had a private jet, and set Josh up with a cozy income-earning position coaching wrestling, privately, to groups of school-kids. Being AKA’s first All-American wrestler, he seemed to have gotten the royal treatment. That’s my view, looking back. With that, Mr. Koscheck traveled into San Jose when he saw fit."
"I think AKA has some of the most talented coaches he could have asked for," Ebersole continued later in the interview. "Camarillo, BJJ/Judo Black belt. Javier was a world champion. Bob Cook was an undefeated MMA fighter and is widely regarded as Frank Shamrock’s best student (and he went on to train under many more talented gentlemen). Daniel Cormier came out and acted as a coach and teammate. Jerome Turcan, who handled my striking development, is a multiple time French Savate Champion and a former K-1 Finalist. I mean, he was surrounded by talented former athletes, and some of the best active athletes in his weight class (Fitch, Swick, etc.)"
"He couldn’t get good work in? It was there to be had. He mentioned that Javier coached him but that he didn’t learn anything. Really? I learn from BJJ blue belts whilst I travel the globe teaching and training. And you can’t learn from a former World Champion? That’s a curious comment, if you ask me, which you did."
But that wasn't all Ebersole had to say on the subject, and he ripped into Koscheck while at the same time expressing that none of Koscheck's actions were surprising to him.
"I think he was successful because he had a chip on his shoulder all his life. And that’s fine," Ebersole said. "But when life opens its doors to you, allows you to live the dream, maybe some class, tact, and grace is called for? Life and society has obviously stopped beating Koscheck up at every turn. I assume an educated guy like him would actually put into practice some of the things he’s “learned” about treating others as you’d like to be treated."
"He’s always a bit flippant and disrespectful to [MMAFighting.com and Fuel TV's Ariel] Helwani, but this last interview was ridiculous," he continued. "Bad attempts at humor and despite the line of questioning, he brought it back to the drama/breakup he had with AKA. He went well out of his way to slander Javier Mendez and the system that AKA has built. Very disrespectful. Koscheck was not a self-made UFC star, as he’d like you to believe. There are more guys than just me that remember him punching like a girl for a few years. He’s figured it out now, and punches with power, but he didn’t do that on his own."
"If he had any problems with Javier, it’s because Javier was the only one that would conflict with him. Most of the coaches are very non-confrontational. Javier tells it how he sees it. Josh probably had a big problem anytime criticism came; and 90% of that would have come from Javier, because it was not in the nature of the other coaches. Not surprising that they butted heads. And not surprising that Kos has acted like a child in regard to his life-changing plans. Disappointing to many, no doubt. But not surprising to anyone who knows him."
Penick's Analysis: Ebersole certainly didn't hold back here, and I'm sure there are plenty that would characterize Koscheck in the same way. At the same time, this is one side from a a fighter who has only been affiliated with AKA in spurts for the last several years, and hasn't been as present as others in the gym to give this assessment of Koscheck. Still, he can only speak on his own personal experiences with those involved, and he's given a scathing take on Koscheck's role in the situation. Koscheck is sure to fire back at some point, and perhaps the two of them will have a chance to square off down the line, but for now, Ebersole has certainly fired off one hell of a salvo to kick things off.
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"I’m not alone in thinking he’s a dick," Ebersole said. "I revisited AKA a time or two since I’d moved to Australia. The first time, I came off of a 14-hour flight and went straight to the gym. I announced that I had a fairly serious neck injury. I had a decent spar with Fitch, who held me down and beat me up, but kept a respectable speed/intensity. But Koscheck acted like I was standing in the way of him and a paycheck. And socially, he was very abrasive per usual."
Ebersole came to the defense of the coaching staff as well, and ripped into Koscheck's special treatment while he was at the gym until 2005.
"Josh came out to AKA in 2004, but he didn’t come straight out to live in San Jose," Ebersole explained. "He immediately settled into Fresno, where our manager lived in a mansion, had a private jet, and set Josh up with a cozy income-earning position coaching wrestling, privately, to groups of school-kids. Being AKA’s first All-American wrestler, he seemed to have gotten the royal treatment. That’s my view, looking back. With that, Mr. Koscheck traveled into San Jose when he saw fit."
"I think AKA has some of the most talented coaches he could have asked for," Ebersole continued later in the interview. "Camarillo, BJJ/Judo Black belt. Javier was a world champion. Bob Cook was an undefeated MMA fighter and is widely regarded as Frank Shamrock’s best student (and he went on to train under many more talented gentlemen). Daniel Cormier came out and acted as a coach and teammate. Jerome Turcan, who handled my striking development, is a multiple time French Savate Champion and a former K-1 Finalist. I mean, he was surrounded by talented former athletes, and some of the best active athletes in his weight class (Fitch, Swick, etc.)"
"He couldn’t get good work in? It was there to be had. He mentioned that Javier coached him but that he didn’t learn anything. Really? I learn from BJJ blue belts whilst I travel the globe teaching and training. And you can’t learn from a former World Champion? That’s a curious comment, if you ask me, which you did."
But that wasn't all Ebersole had to say on the subject, and he ripped into Koscheck while at the same time expressing that none of Koscheck's actions were surprising to him.
"I think he was successful because he had a chip on his shoulder all his life. And that’s fine," Ebersole said. "But when life opens its doors to you, allows you to live the dream, maybe some class, tact, and grace is called for? Life and society has obviously stopped beating Koscheck up at every turn. I assume an educated guy like him would actually put into practice some of the things he’s “learned” about treating others as you’d like to be treated."
"He’s always a bit flippant and disrespectful to [MMAFighting.com and Fuel TV's Ariel] Helwani, but this last interview was ridiculous," he continued. "Bad attempts at humor and despite the line of questioning, he brought it back to the drama/breakup he had with AKA. He went well out of his way to slander Javier Mendez and the system that AKA has built. Very disrespectful. Koscheck was not a self-made UFC star, as he’d like you to believe. There are more guys than just me that remember him punching like a girl for a few years. He’s figured it out now, and punches with power, but he didn’t do that on his own."
"If he had any problems with Javier, it’s because Javier was the only one that would conflict with him. Most of the coaches are very non-confrontational. Javier tells it how he sees it. Josh probably had a big problem anytime criticism came; and 90% of that would have come from Javier, because it was not in the nature of the other coaches. Not surprising that they butted heads. And not surprising that Kos has acted like a child in regard to his life-changing plans. Disappointing to many, no doubt. But not surprising to anyone who knows him."
Penick's Analysis: Ebersole certainly didn't hold back here, and I'm sure there are plenty that would characterize Koscheck in the same way. At the same time, this is one side from a a fighter who has only been affiliated with AKA in spurts for the last several years, and hasn't been as present as others in the gym to give this assessment of Koscheck. Still, he can only speak on his own personal experiences with those involved, and he's given a scathing take on Koscheck's role in the situation. Koscheck is sure to fire back at some point, and perhaps the two of them will have a chance to square off down the line, but for now, Ebersole has certainly fired off one hell of a salvo to kick things off.
Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_12843.shtml
Hockey Fight of the Day: New Jersey Devils vs. New York Rangers
Typically this daily feature mentions a player vs. player encounter but when it came to last night’s game between the New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers the notion of individual battles went out the door from the opening bell when multiple fights broke out. Watch below as Ryan Carter-Stu Bickel, Cam Janssen-Brandon Prust, and [...]
Source: http://www.fighters.com/03/20/hockey-fight-of-the-day-new-jersey-devils-vs-new-york-rangers
btw Sergei Kharitonov fought today
Kharitonov KOed M.Miller in the 1st Round (right hook)
Source: http://www.mmaforum.com/general-mma-discussion/100703-btw-sergei-kharitonov-fought-today.html
Tony Fryklund Kazuyuki Fujita Masakatsu Funaki Zelg Benkei Galesić
Rashad Evans feels knowledge will be key to beating Jon Jones
Even though UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones has looked unbeatable since coming onto the scene a few years ago there’s one man who knows otherwise – Rashad Evans. A former training partner of Jones and next challenger to the 24-year old’s title, Evans will enter their headlining tilt at UFC 145 with supreme confidence [...]
Source: http://www.fighters.com/03/16/rashad-evans-feels-knowledge-will-be-key-to-beating-jon-jones
Demian Maia dropping down to welterweight
After a solid run at 185 pounds it looks like submission-specialist Demian Maia will be mixing it up as a welterweight for the foreseeable future, opting to compete against opponents closer to him in overall size than those entering with a noticeable strength advantage. Maia made the announcement by way of Twitter where he wrote, [...]
Source: http://www.fighters.com/03/18/demian-maia-dropping-down-to-welterweight
Brian Foster Suffers Another Setback in Fighting Career
On Thursday afternoon, it was announced welterweight Brian Foster (Pictured) would be forced out of his tournament quarterfinals matchup against David Rickels after the Mohegan Sun Commission failed to grant him his license. According to Bellator Fighting Championships, Foster will need to be screened for additional testing before he is medically cleared to resume his [...]
Source: http://www.5thRound.com/109949/brian-foster-suffers-another-setback-in-fighting-career/
Nutrition By Urijah Faber...
Quite an informative read. In fact I'm going to email em to see if I can recipes on smoothies...lolz! Spent a ton on Jugo/Jamba/Orange Julius and...
Source: http://www.mmaforum.com/training-nutrition/100698-nutrition-urijah-faber.html
Friday, March 23, 2012
Dana White: Anderson Silva-Chael Sonnen II coming to 80,000-seat stadium in Rio de Janeiro
By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
The UFC was planning on bringing the Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen rematch to Sao Paulo, Brazil, this June, but hiccups with local ordinances have kept them from being able to bring an event to a soccer stadium there.
However, the fight will be coming to a big soccer stadium in Brazil, it will simply be shifted to Rio de Janeiro.
UFC President Dana White revealed the shift during Wednesday's press conference in Calgary, and said the event will be open to 80,000 fans.
Should the card sell out, it will bring the largest gate in UFC history and blow away the North American attendance record as well, both of which were set last April at UFC 129 in Toronto. This rematch between Silva and Sonnen will bring out a big crowd, for sure, but can the UFC get 80,000 fans for one event? They're going to find out in June.
Penick's Analysis: The shift to Rio has been talked about, as noise ordinances in Sao Paulo wouldn't have allowed for a stadium show at the time they would need to run. Rio has been good for them twice already, and having the Silva-Sonnen rematch live from an outdoor stadium with 80,000 fans would be one insane spectacle. This is a huge, huge fight, and the UFC is certainly trying to pull out everything they can to make it a massive event. We'll see if they can pull it off, but this is certainly the type of fight that just may manage it.
[Chael Sonnen art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
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However, the fight will be coming to a big soccer stadium in Brazil, it will simply be shifted to Rio de Janeiro.
UFC President Dana White revealed the shift during Wednesday's press conference in Calgary, and said the event will be open to 80,000 fans.
Should the card sell out, it will bring the largest gate in UFC history and blow away the North American attendance record as well, both of which were set last April at UFC 129 in Toronto. This rematch between Silva and Sonnen will bring out a big crowd, for sure, but can the UFC get 80,000 fans for one event? They're going to find out in June.
Penick's Analysis: The shift to Rio has been talked about, as noise ordinances in Sao Paulo wouldn't have allowed for a stadium show at the time they would need to run. Rio has been good for them twice already, and having the Silva-Sonnen rematch live from an outdoor stadium with 80,000 fans would be one insane spectacle. This is a huge, huge fight, and the UFC is certainly trying to pull out everything they can to make it a massive event. We'll see if they can pull it off, but this is certainly the type of fight that just may manage it.
[Chael Sonnen art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_12838.shtml
Jim Hettes vs. Steven Siler scheduled for UFC on FX 4
Two of the featherweight division’s rising stars have been booked to face off at UFC on FX 4 in the form of Jim Hettes-Steven Siler, adding yet another intriguing match-up to the June 22 card. Both men are 2-0 inside the Octagon and coming off impressive performances against veteran competitors. The UFC announced the match-up/location [...]
Source: http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2012/03/23/jim-hettes-vs-steven-siler-scheduled-for-ufc-on-fx-4/
Mike Easton’s reppin the DMV, ready to do big things at UFC on FUEL TV 3
UFC bantamweight Mike “The Hulk” Easton took some time out of his training schedule to call into a hometown radio station – DC101 in Washington, DC to discuss his upcoming fight at UFC on FUEL TV 3 on May 15th. Easton (12-1) is set to take on Yves Jabouin on the main card which takes [...]
Mike Easton’s reppin the DMV, ready to do big things at UFC on FUEL TV 3 is a post from: MMA Interplay UFC News
5 Oz. MMA Link Club
Welcome back to another edition of “MMA Link Club”, Five Ounces of Pain‘s weekly smorgasbord of offerings from our brothers and sisters in the MMA community. Enjoy… Ronda Rousey Headed for ESPN’s “Body” Issue (CagePotato.com) Randy Couture Has No Regrets in his Career (MMAConvert.com) Dana White Intent on Doing Anderson Silva-Chael Sonnen II in Soccer [...]
Source: http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2012/03/22/5-oz-mma-link-club-86/
Cung Le set for clash with Rich Franklin in July
Dynamic middleweight Cung Le delivered an extremely entertaining albeit unsuccessful performance in his UFC debut this past November when he faced Wanderlei Silva. Now it appears the former Strikeforce champion is poised to repeat at least one part of the previous feat when he rumbles with Rich Franklin at UFC 148. Franklin, also known for [...]
Source: http://www.fighters.com/03/19/cung-le-set-for-clash-with-rich-franklin-in-july
UFC Back in the uk
It seem the ufc is on its way back to the uk this september and is heading to the city of liverpool (Echo Arena). Dane white tweeted “We are coming...
Benson Henderson: “Whoever they put in front of me, I will beat up.”
Don’t let the long hair or love of comic books fool you. UFC lightweight Benson Henderson is as blue-collar a fighter as you’ll find on the organization’s roster. When it comes to his chosen profession, rather than craving attention, acting out, or making demands, “Bendo” is content bringing his lunch-pail to his proverbial office on [...]
Brian Ebersole Battles T.J. Waldburger at ‘UFC on FX 4′
Late Wednesday night, a sixth bout was added to the “UFC on FX: Maynard vs. Guida” roster. Welterweight Brian Ebersole (Pictured) will put his 10-fight winning streak on the line when he faces T.J. Waldburger in the June 22nd event. Of the six scraps confirmed for the freebie fight card thus far, four of them [...]
Source: http://www.5thRound.com/109901/brian-ebersole-battles-t-j-waldburger-at-ufc-on-fx-4/
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