We’re just one day away from UFC 143: Condit vs. Diaz. Before we can enjoy the fights, let’s make sure we’re up to speed on that brawl and the rest of the sport of mixed martial martial arts. From Thursday’s UFC 143 pre-fight press conference, to Chuck Liddell’s newest Super Bowl commercial, catch up with everything you might have missed and everything you need to see on today’s edition of the Morning Report.
5 MUST-READ STORIES TO START YOUR DAY:
UFC Gladiator has finally been defeated. After nearly a decade, the Gladiator has called it quits. Ariel Helwani brings you the details of the UFC’s newest Hans Zimmer-esque introduction.
U.S. government shuts down streaming websites. For those planning to stream UFC 143 online illegally, the task just got a little tougher.
UFC 143: by the odds. Ben Fowlkes offers us Saturday night’s betting lines and outlines his idea for the perfect parlay.
UFC 143 press conference photo gallery. Esther Lin was on-hand to document Thursday’s pre-fight press conference, of course including plenty of shots of Roy Nelson’s dwarf beard.
UFC 143 judo chop: the striking and grappling technique of Nick Diaz. Nate Wilcox comprehensively breaks down the skills that make Nick Diaz one of MMA’s most feared combatants.
YESTERDAY’S MEDIA GUMBO:
India’s first professional MMA organization, the Super Fight League, has apparently tapped the services of Bob Sapp and James Thompson to launch their inaugural show. (HT: Bloody Elbow)
Don’t blink or you’ll miss UFC Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell in Kia’s newest Super Bowl commercial. (HT: Bloody Elbow)
Members of the New England Patriots make their UFC 143 predictions. (Note: the intro is in Spanish, but bear with it.). Click the image to watch the video.
The infamous media rumble at the UFC 143 open workouts. Skip to 11:00 to see our own Ariel Helwani doing his thing, or just jump right ahead to 18:46 to see the media testosterone fly. (HT: Middle Easy)
Pat Barry’s all-caps, multi-exclamation point response after finding out he would fight on Fox:
Debuting the calf slicer into the UFC’s lexicon was apparently enough for instructors Erickson Cardoso and Jorge Patino “Macaco” to award Charles Oliveira his BJJ black belt. (HT: Bloody Elbow)
Curious to know a little more about the UFC’s new non-gladiator intro? We’ve got the goods, courtesy of Case Keefer. (Click the link for a larger version.)
Even when no one’s around, Chael Sonnen’s mouth never sleeps.
Doesn’t Forrest Griffin tell the nicest stories?
@ForrestGriffin
Forrest Griffin I once had an old guy tell me “well I didnt smoke crack today so I guess it was a good day” he then proceeded to ask me if I had any crack?
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FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Here’s what was announced yesterday (Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2012):
- UFC on Fox 3: Jim Miller (21-3) vs. Nate Diaz (15-7) confirmed as main event
- UFC on Fox 3: Pat Barry (7-4) vs. Lavar Johnson (16-5) confirmed for Fox broadcast
- UFC on Fox 3: Karlos Vemola (8-2) vs. Mike Massenzio (13-6)
- UFC on FX 3: Thiago Silva (14-2, 1 NC) vs. Brandon Vera (12-5, 1 NC)
- UFC on FX 3: Tom Lawlor (7-4, 1 NC) vs. Jason MacDonald (25-15)
- UFC on FX 2: Robert Peralta (15-3, 1 NC) out with injury, Mackens Semerzier (6-3, 1 NC) expected to receive new opponent
FANPOST OF THE DAY:
Today’s FPOTD belongs to BE reader MarcusMitchellBSP: Defending The Champ.
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Found something informative, entertaining, brutal, or just plain bizarre for the Morning Report? Hit me at @shaunalshatti and we’ll include it in tomorrow’s post.