The influence that Brazil has had on mixed martial arts is absolutely undeniable. Jiu-jitsu is an art form developed in the country and has become a staple in the arsenal of every fighter alive.In addition, the country has produced world champions in s…
The influence that Brazil has had on mixed martial arts is absolutely undeniable. Jiu-jitsu is an art form developed in the country and has become a staple in the arsenal of every fighter alive.
In addition, the country has produced world champions in several weight classes, and many of the UFC’s reigning champions are from the Land of the Holy Cross. Coincidence? I think not.
At UFC 153, the UFC returns to Brazil for the fourth time in less than 18 months. Every fight on the card will feature at least one Brazilian star, and it got us at B/R MMA thinking about the top Brazilian fighters in history.
Here is a list of the top 15 best Brazilian fighters in MMA history.
In August, the middleweight division sent two of it’s biggest stars to the light heavyweight division.This move shook up the rankings big time, as Chael Sonnen and Vitor Belfort were members of the Top Five.The divisional action didn’t slow down for on…
In August, the middleweight division sent two of it’s biggest stars to the light heavyweight division.
This move shook up the rankings big time, as ChaelSonnen and VitorBelfort were members of the Top Five.
The divisional action didn’t slow down for one second in September, as UFC Champion Anderson Silva agreed to a light heavyweight fight. We witnessed a potential title eliminator between Michael Bisping and Brian Stann, and a huge battle between Chris Weidman and Tim Boetsch was booked for December.
Let’s take a look at how the rankings were affected by such a big month for the division. This is the official Bleacher Report MMA rankings of MMA’s middleweight division for the month of October 2012.
With the recent PPV trends suggesting that fans aren’t as interested in the lighter weight divisions, we should take a look at why that is the case. Some argue that fans don’t think that smaller fighters can deliver the satisfying knockouts that we cra…
With the recent PPV trends suggesting that fans aren’t as interested in the lighter weight divisions, we should take a look at why that is the case. Some argue that fans don’t think that smaller fighters can deliver the satisfying knockouts that we crave. Some believe that the new weight divisions don’t have enough star power to warrant spending $55 of our hard-earned money on guys who aren’t big enough names.
One thing is for sure: The lighter weight classes as a whole are not hurting for talent. With some of MMA‘s top talents weighing in below 155 pounds, the little guys face fierce competition every time they step into the cage.
But how does that level of competition compare to that of the heavier divisions? Here is a power ranking of each division based on strength of competition.
Are your friends still uncertain if they want to watch mixed martial arts? If so, it’s possible that they can’t get past the imagery of two dudes rolling around on the mat and “grinding” their way to victory.While ground work can occasionally be a ches…
Are your friends still uncertain if they want to watch mixed martial arts? If so, it’s possible that they can’t get past the imagery of two dudes rolling around on the mat and “grinding” their way to victory.
While ground work can occasionally be a chess match in which fighters wait for their opponents to make a mistake, some grappling affairs can be both thrilling and dangerous.
Just like dipping your toe into the pool to check the temperature, new fans need to be introduced to the sport slowly, and with the right supervision. To help them appreciate the amazing art of submission, we have put together a short list of fights that they should watch.
Here is a look at 10 awesome submission wins to show the new fight fan.
On November 17, Johny Hendricks and Martin Kampmann will battle in a title eliminator for the UFC welterweight championship. However, the last time that the belt was defended, neither man was ranked in the division’s Top 10.In May of 2011, Georges St-P…
On November 17, Johny Hendricks and Martin Kampmann will battle in a title eliminator for the UFC welterweight championship. However, the last time that the belt was defended, neither man was ranked in the division’s Top 10.
In May of 2011, Georges St-Pierre had successfully vanquished Jake Shields on the biggest live event in UFC history. Their battle at UFC 129 wasn’t exactly the epic collision that some anticipated, but it once again established that GSP is the best welterweight in the world.
Let’s take a look at the welterweight division after UFC 129:
Georges St-Pierre
Jon Fitch
Jake Shields
ThiagoAlves
Josh Koscheck
Nick Diaz
B.J. Penn
Carlos Condit
Diego Sanchez
Paul Daley
In the past 16 months, Jake Shields and Diego Sanchez have moved to different weight classes, while losses have knocked ThiagoAlves, B.J. Penn and Paul Daley from their place in the list.
Technically, GSP is ineligible from the rankings due to his period of inactivity, but, for the sake of fairness, I have placed him atop the current list. I don’t think anyone will argue that he deserves it.
Georges St-Pierre
Carlos Condit
Johny Hendricks
Martin Kampmann
Nick Diaz
Jake Ellenberger
Josh Koscheck
Jon Fitch
Nate Marquardt
Rory MacDonald
When St-Pierre returns, he will come back to a welterweight landscape that barely resembles the one that he once knew. While some would say that the champ’s absence has caused a crisis at 170 pounds, I would make the argument that it helped to revitalize it.
New contenders like Condit, Hendricks, Kampmann, Ellenberger and MacDonald have emerged. Nick Diaz has moved to the UFC roster and will return early next year. Nate Marquardt has made an important drop to welterweight and will join the UFC once Strikeforce inevitably collapses in on itself.
It may not be the best time for business in the UFC, but, for fans of the welterweight division, things have never been more exciting.
Depending on who you ask, Vitor Belfort is either an elite member of the MMA world or a fictitious creature fabricated by the UFC’s marketing department. There is a big gap in the middle, which is where many of us find ourselves.Regardless of which sid…
Depending on who you ask, VitorBelfort is either an elite member of the MMA world or a fictitious creature fabricated by the UFC’s marketing department. There is a big gap in the middle, which is where many of us find ourselves.
Regardless of which side of the fence you are on, Belfort nearly dethroned Jon Jones on Saturday night with a lightning-fast armbar that left the champion in agony. The move was fully executed, and Jones admitted that he was unwilling to tap out, but expected his arm to break.
Ultimately, Belfort came up short after Jones was able to escape the hold, but he earned the respect of the world and proved his many doubters to be a little foolish.
Even after an admirable performance, we still have some questions about The Phenom.
On November 17, Johny Hendricks and Martin