The Natural’ Randy Couture has been a multi-division five-time UFC champion but has struggled with the UFC brass for…
The Natural’ Randy Couture has been a multi-division five-time UFC champion but has struggled with the UFC brass for decades. On a recent podcast episode with Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson, the US-born Couture spilled the beans of having his rights taken away by the UFC.
Randy Couture on UFC Contracts and Rights
Randy Couture is a celebrated figure in both wrestling and MMA. As an amateur wrestler, he earned three NCAA Division I All-American honors and served as a four-time Olympic team alternate. In the UFC, he was a three-time Heavyweight Champion and two-time Light Heavyweight Champion, making him the first fighter to hold titles in two different weight classes. His career was marked by notable victories over fighters like Chuck Liddell and Tim Sylvia, and he became the oldest champion in UFC history at age 43.
But his work outside of the UFC are just as notable to his career. Randy Couture was able to obtain his own likeness and worked with EA Sports on an MMA video game without the involvement of the UFC. He has also worked closely with MMA organizations such as Affliction and the PFL and spent time as an actor.
Randy Couture in EA MMA
Discussing what happened behind closed doors dealing with the UFC brass with ‘Rampage’ Jackson, Couture explained:
“I was one of the first guys to speak up about fighter pay and these crappy contracts. When they bought the company in 2001, I kind of got on the outs with them right away over their ancillary rights and the stuff in those contracts. Then I took them to task again in 2006. I knew I wasn’t being told the truth.
“Originally, it was the ancillary rights. They basically wanted to own my rights in every single category forever … It meant I’d have to ask Dana White’s permission to do a movie, write a book, be in a video game—anything outside of stepping into that cage and fighting for them. That didn’t make sense to me, so we fought them over it. Back then, I got erased from the posters.”
‘The Natural‘ has been removed from any UFC highlight reels and is never mentioned on the broadcast. Randy Couture added that this is standard when dealing with the UFC, he said:
“They wanted it with everyone. I was no exception … They don’t want to talk about that stuff. It’s a black eye for them. Most fight fans don’t even know what goes on behind the scenes. The UFC isn’t advertising the fact that their fighters aren’t happy with pay or the restrictive contracts.”
“Black Jacks wants “War Horse.”
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight Carlos Ulberg secured his biggest win to date at UFC Macau yesterday (Sat., Nov. 23, 2024) when he sc…
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
“Black Jacks wants “War Horse.”
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight Carlos Ulberg secured his biggest win to date at UFC Macau yesterday (Sat., Nov. 23, 2024) when he scored a unanimous decision win over former title challenger Volkan Oezdemir from inside Galaxy Arena in Macau, SRA, China.
Ulberg should snag Oezdemir’s No. 8 ranking on Tuesday, and when he does, “Black Jag” will have several potential opponents he can fight next. He did throw out a name after his win, and it is a fun option. (It’s not UFC champion Alex Pereira)
“Obviously, Khalil had that opportunity last time, so I think for the next step, my next step would be up against a guy like Khalil Rountree,” Ulberg told UFC.com in a post-fight interview.
With Rountree currently ranked No. 7 in the Light Heavyweight rankings, a fight between him and Ulberg makes a ton of sense … and it would be an all-action fight as both men are high-level strikers.
“Black Jag” mentioned he would like to fight at UFC 312, which is scheduled for Feb. 8, 2025, in Sydney, Australia.
Ulberg is riding a seven-fight win streak, with five of those wins coming by way of finish. Meanwhile, Rountree is coming off a UFC Light Heavyweight title fight loss, where Pereira knocked him out at UFC 307.
For complete UFC Macau results, coverage, and highlights, click HERE.
Multi-organization MMA world champion Cris Cyborg has proposed the idea for an openweight fight against all-time great multi-weight boxing…
Multi-organization MMA world champion Cris Cyborg has proposed the idea for an openweight fight against all-time great multi-weight boxing champion Claressa Shields. ‘GWOAT’ Shields accepted the idea for an openweight match.
Cris Cyborg vs. Claressa Shields
Brazil’s Cris Cyborg is an MMA Grand Slam champion having captured world titles in the UFC, Bellator, Strikeforce, Invicta, and, most recently, the PFL. Outside of MMA, she has professional wins in Muay Thai, Submission Grappling, and boxing.
The US-born unbeaten Claressa Shields is an icon in boxing having won two Olympic gold medals as an amateur. Then cemented her greatness by capturing professional titles in the WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, WBF, and others, across multiple weight divisions. Most recently, she captured the heavyweight throne by way of knockout.
On X, Cris Cyborg pitched an openweight bout against Shields by Tweeting: “Let’s bring back [Royce Gracie] style fights. [Claressa Shields ] 30 pounds heavier than me. Let’s do a no weight limit, open weight fight. [PFL MMA].”
Claressa Shields was quick to accept the bout responding: “Oh Cris Cyborg wanna fight open weight! BET! Let’s do it at 154, 160 in boxing! I’ll put all my belts up “Turki Alalshikh]”
Lastly, Cyborg said: “We literally have the same MMA promoter. I don’t even walk at 160 pounds. If you want to fight boxing get off the cookies and chips and make 147 it could all be so simple but you’d rather duck competition. If you can’t cut the weight then show up a sloppy 175lbs to the cage.”
It seems both Cris Cyborg and Claressa Shields want the fight but can’t agree on the sport. Cyborg, the MMA all-time great, wants to fight in MMA while the boxing great wants the match in boxing. While both fight under the PFL banner in MMA, Shields is putting all of her belts on the line in boxing.
In every form of wrestling, all of the techniques are connected together through chain wrestling. These connections are what…
In every form of wrestling, all of the techniques are connected together through chain wrestling. These connections are what make the link from getting an opponent to the ground and into a pinning position.
Below are fifty examples of chain wrestling, with descriptions provided. Check out these chain wrestling techniques and be sure to add any to your arsenal that you may not know.
What is Chain Wrestling?
Chain wrestling is the connecting of different techniques for the goal of landing a takedown, pin, or submission. There are nearly infinite examples of chain wrestling, with variations taught by different coaches.
Standing Transitions
Many chain wrestling transitions begin from stranding and connect techniques in order to secure a takedown. Here are ten examples of stranding transitions using chain wrestling.
1. Collar-and-Elbow Tie-Up to Arm Drag
An arm drag is a common setup from a collar-and-elbow tie-up. Take your collar tie hand off your opponent’s neck and grab above their elbow as you step in.
2. Duck Under to Back Control
From a bicep control, raise your opponent’s arm up to give you space to duck under and go to their back.
3. Snap Down to Front Headlock
Using a collar tie, break your opponent’s posture by snapping their head down and secure a front headlock.
4. Arm Drag to Single-Leg Takedown
One of the many transitions from an arm drag is to a basic single-leg takedown. As you step into your arm drag, change levels, and grab a single leg on your opponent.
5. Russian Tie to Fireman’s Carry
When your opponent goes for a collar tie, counter the grab with a Russian tie. With both hands controlling their arm, take one grip off, dive between their legs, and secure the fireman’s carry.
6. Double-Leg Takedown to Bodylock
In case of an opponent sprawling your double-leg, fake the attempt and come up into a bodylock.
7. Waist Lock to Standing Switch
When your opponent has a back waist lock, counter the grip by exploding up and counter into a standing switch.
8. Head-and Arm Tie-Up to Arm Spin
From a collar tie, fake a single-leg on your opponent to set up an arm spin and go to their back.
9. Shuck to Side Body Lock
When you attempt a go behind transition, your opponent will often follow you. In this case, use a shuck to throw their head to the side and take a side body lock.
10. Snap Down to Go-Behind
From head-and-arm control, snap your opponent down and go behind their back.
Ground Transitions
11. Single-Leg Takedown to Ankle Pick
From a collar-tie, a single leg set up is common, but your opponent might take their front leg away. If they do that, you can go to a nice ankle pick on the opposite side.
12. Front Headlock to Cradle
Front headlock to any cradle variation you like, from the inside of outside depending on the situation.
13. Switch Armbar Half Nelson
Use an armbar to break down your opponent’s posture as you switch to a half nelson for a pin attempt.
14. Knee Tap to Side Control
From an underhook, pull your opponent forward to hit the knee tap and land in side-control.
15. Sprawl to Back Control
Sprawl on top of your opponent as they come in for a takedown attempt and transition around to back control.
16. Cross Wrist Release to Cross Face Cradle
Let go of a cross wrist grip to hit a cross face cradle variation.
17. Snap Down to Gut Wrench
Snap your opponent’s head down, rotate to their side, grab a bodylock, and roll into a gut wrench.
18. Hip Heist Escape From Tight Waist
A hip heist escape is the most common escape from when your opponent has a tight waist.
19. Granby to Peterson Roll
Escape out of a tight waist lock using a Granby roll and transitioning into a Peterson roll.
20. Leg Ride to Power Half-Nelson
Leg riding and transitioning your opponent to their back using a power half-nelson.
Submission Transitions(Submission Wrestling)
Chain wrestling becomes even more diverse once submissions are added to the equation. Here are some examples of chains from submission wrestling.
21. Side-Control to Kimura Lock(Double Wrist Lock)
In side-control-isolate your opponents far arm and lock-on a kimura or double wrist lock.
22. Side-Control to Arm Triangle Choke
From side-control, push your opponent’s far arm across their neck as you lock your hands together. Hop to the other side, sprawl to the mat, and lock in your submission.
23. Front Head Control to Guillotine Choke
Snap your opponent’s head down into front head control, and lock in a guillotine choke.
24. Single-Leg Attempt to Heel Hook
Fake a single-leg takedown attempt and fall back on your opponent’s leg and lock in a heel hook.
25. Arm Drag to Rear Naked Choke
Use an arm drag to get all the way to your opponent’s back and lock in a rear naked choke.
26. Mount to Armbar
From the mount, hug your opponent’s arm to your chest and transition into an armlock.
27. Mount to Triangle Choke
From the mount, control both of your opponent’s arms. Push one arm to their chest as you bring your leg up and lift their neck off their mat. Triangle your legs together and either stay mounted or go to your back.
28. Americana to Arm Triangle
Your opponent may react to an Americana attempt by keeping their arm in tight. If they defend this way, use the opportunity to set up an arm triangle submission.
29. Guillotine Choke to Anaconda Choke
If your opponent defends your guillotine attempt, use it as a setup to go into a tight anaconda choke.
30. Triangle Choke to Omoplata
If your opponent is defending your triangle choke attempt by hooking their arm around your leg, use this to hit an omoplata.
Reversal and Counter Transitions
There’s a whole other set of chain wrestling maneuvers to either reverse or counter out of a bad spot. Here are ten examples of these moves.
31. Granby Roll to Escape
Just like mentioned above, you can Granby roll to roll out of a tight waist grab.
32. Exploding Sit Out Switch
When your opponent is chasing you, a normal sit out may not work. Another option is a exploding variation where you shoot your hips forward before going into your switch,
33. The Hurdler
When your opponent is on top with a leg ride, straighten your leg, and pivot hard into your opponent.
Making a short-notice debut under the banner of the Mike Perry-led, Dirty Boxing Championship overnight, Yoel Romero — a…
Making a short-notice debut under the banner of the Mike Perry-led, Dirty Boxing Championship overnight, Yoel Romero — a former title challenger both the banner of the UFC and Bellator MMA, laid waste to an opponent with a brutal first round knockout in a massive heavyweight outing.
Romero, a veteran former middleweight title challenger under the banner of the UFC before his eventual move to Bellator MMA — where he also competed for an undisputed light heavyweight crown, most recently featured in February under the scrutiny of the PFL in Riyadh.
Mandatory Credit: Bellator MMA
And turning in his first victory since his transition to the Donn Davis-led organization, Romero turned in an impressive unanimous decision win over fellow UFC veteran and former title challenger, Thiago Santos.
And taking in the fights were the likes of UFC heavyweight champion, Jon Jones — and former UFC starlet, Paige VanZant — with the invite-only crowd taking in a stunning first round knockout win for Cuban veteran wrestler, Yoel Romero.
Below, catch the highlights from Yoel Romero’s knockout win over Duane Crespo overnight
A host of Bellator MMA stars, including three of the promotion’s most notable and prominent championship holders, Patricio Pitbull,…
A host of Bellator MMA stars, including three of the promotion’s most notable and prominent championship holders, Patricio Pitbull, Patchy Mix, and UFC alum, Corey Anderson have voiced their displeasure with the lack of activity since the acquisition of the organization from the PFL (Professional Fighters League).
On social media this afternoon, a host of Bellator MMA fighters took to their official profiles, voicing their displeasure with the current movement of their careers in mixed martial arts since the Scott Coker-led promotional banner agreed a deal to link up with the PFL, notably undisputed bantamweight champion and heralded combat sports star, Mix.
Mandatory Credit: Bellator MMA
“I’ve been training my ass off for the last half of year for nothing,” Patchy Mix posted on his official X account this afternoon. “This is frustrating in the prime of my career and I’ve had my fight in November cancelled? Then now again I’m being told I’m off January Dubai card? I am the best in the world and I want to fight to prove it.”
Furthermore, current undisputed light heavyweight champion, Anderson, who has been sidelined since winning gold against Karl Moore in Belfast back in March of this year, claimed he was aging like “warm cheese” amid the acquisition by the PFL.
“Aging like warm cheese over here waiting for [PFL] to give me a call,” Corey Anderson posted on his X account today. “But don’t get it twisted…. we still ready to defend the strap against ANYBODY! Young or Old!!”
Patricio Pitbull voices concern over future of Bellator MMA amid acquisition from PFL
And notably, former two-division champion, Pitbull — who currently resides over the featherweight division in his third reign as champion, claimed he was made aware of his fight cancellation on social media, rather than from the promotion itself.
Image via: Getty
“I haven’t fought since February,” Patricio Pitbull posted on X. I wanted to fight 3x this year, but I was told I’d have to wait until December 31st and found out online my opponent would fight someone else. Then they had a replacement, I bring people over, spend more money with the camp and there’s no fight.”
I haven’t fought since February. I wanted to fight 3x this year, but I was told I’d have to wait until December 31st and found out online my opponent would fight someone else. Then they had a replacement, I bring people over, spend more money with the camp and there’s no fight. https://t.co/UM5YyCt4Kf
“They said things didn’t work out with Japan and that it wasn’t their fault. Ok. So why don’t you stage a show somewhere else? What kind of promotion can’t give fighters at least two fights a year? Some haven’t even fought this year! Bellator MMA used to be BIG. Things worked and we…
always had answers. They never just cancelled a show and said they had no idea when we would be booked. Even regional promotions have dates set for April of next year already! This merger has been a disaster to the sport of MMA. Meanwhile, we have to see the top brass talking about…
offering tens of millions of dollars to social media personalities and semi-retired fighters,while cutting 90% of the roster and telling guys making 30+30 they’re too expensive. How can you become number 1 in the world if you don’t stage events and don’t want to pay fighters?
I am very worried about the future of Bellator MMA and MMA in general. I feel very sorry for all the fighters who didn’t even get to fight this year or were cut because they just don’t make shows or think they’re expensive, and all the fighters who were forced to take paycuts…
This is wrong. We need answers, we need the fighters and fans to be respected. This is not a game or just some business, these are people’s lives we are talking about. A serious promotion would give fighters the chance to fight at least 3 times a year if they’re healthy.
Multi-organization MMA world champion Cris Cyborg has proposed the idea for an openweight fight against all-time great multi-weight boxing…
In every form of wrestling, all of the techniques are connected together through chain wrestling. These connections are what…
Making a short-notice debut under the banner of the Mike Perry-led, Dirty Boxing Championship overnight, Yoel Romero — a…
A host of Bellator MMA stars, including three of the promotion’s most notable and prominent championship holders, Patricio Pitbull,…
