Wrestling is considered to be the strongest base in all of MMA. It allows you to control your opponent with strength, technique and strategic positioning. Commonly, wrestlers are criticized for a style of fighting known as “lay and pray,” where they co…
Wrestling is considered to be the strongest base in all of MMA. It allows you to control your opponent with strength, technique and strategic positioning.
Commonly, wrestlers are criticized for a style of fighting known as “lay and pray,” where they control their opponent and ride out the clock in hopes of securing a victory from the judges instead of trying to end the fight.
The reason that lay and pray is so effective is due to the fact that a wrestler has spent his life training to be the guy on top. Once they are in your guard, it can be impossible to better your position. In jiu-jitsu, guard is a neutral position, but the utilization of wrestling has turned it in favor of the boys who have competed in the NCAA.
On Saturday night, Olympic wrestler Daniel Cormier squared off with Josh Barnett in the finals of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. Although Barnett had a distinct submission grappling advantage, the wrestling of Cormier proved to be stifling, to say the least.
Here is a look at the 10 best wrestlers in MMA today.
Strikeforce Lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez is a widely talked-about commodity in the MMA community. From his dominance over a talent-depleted roster to his involvement in the infamous Nashville Brawl of 2010 to his relationship with gossip light…
Strikeforce Lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez is a widely talked-about commodity in the MMA community. From his dominance over a talent-depleted roster to his involvement in the infamous Nashville Brawl of 2010 to his relationship with gossip lightning rods Nick and Nate Diaz, Melendez is a name that has been on the tongue on MMA pundits for years.
Saturday night, Melendez returns to put his Strikeforce championship on the line for a sixth time against one of the only two men to previously defeat him, Josh “The Punk” Thomson. Although Melendez avenged the loss with a decision victory back in 2009, it appears that they have come full circle to clash for a rubber match.
Going into the contest, motivation and stagnation are issues that may plague the reigning champion. Here are four questions that we have for Gilbert Melendez.
All of the changes to the main card are done, right? I surely hope so. My head has been spinning ever since Alistair Overeem was removed from UFC 146 after a random drug test showed that he had a 14:1 T/E ratio. Gabriel Gonzaga was moved and …
All of the changes to the main card are done, right? I surely hope so. My head has been spinning ever since Alistair Overeem was removed from UFC 146 after a random drug test showed that he had a 14:1 T/E ratio.
Gabriel Gonzaga was moved and then removed from the card and replaced by Dave Herman. Big Country vs Bigfoot. No wait. Bigfoot fights Cain and Big Country vs Pee Wee. Shane del Rosario makes his debut somewhere in this mess. It’s enough to make your teeth spin.
Now that we have a finalized card, we can kick into gear with our coverage of next weekend’s UFC 146 event. UFC 146 takes place on Saturday, May 26 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The PPV portion airs at 10 p.m., and the undercard will air on FX and Facebook.
Over the next week, Bleacher Report will give you previews, live event coverage and recap of UFC 146. We begin with a look at the betting odds and predictions of every fight on the main card.
Saturday night, Strikeforce brings us some big matchups. On the docket is the finals of the Heavyweight Grand Prix, a bout with the lightweight championship hanging in the balance, as well as intriguing battles in the light-heavyweight division. L…
Saturday night, Strikeforce brings us some big matchups. On the docket is the finals of the Heavyweight Grand Prix, a bout with the lightweight championship hanging in the balance, as well as intriguing battles in the light-heavyweight division. Let’s take a look at the fighters who can’t afford to lose this weekend.
Mike Kyle is an AKA fighter who has bounced between the light-heavyweight and heavyweight division throughout his career. His stock within the organization jumped in a major way when he stepped in as a late replacement against the dangerous Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva. Nearly knocking out the giant, Kyle earned the respect of the MMA world despite losing.
On Saturday, Kyle will grant a rematch to Rafael Cavalcante, a fighter who would go on to win the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship only three fights after Kyle knocked him out. If Cavalcante avenges this loss, it will take away the bargaining power of the AKA fighter who hopes to transfer to the UFC as soon as possible.
We now take a look at Lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez. Currently seen as best lightweight fighter outside of the UFC, fans across the globe have been foaming at the mouth in hopes of having the Cesar Gracie fighter transferred into the talent-rich roster pool of the UFC. Instead of getting a bout with a UFC star, Melendez has been given a rubber match with Josh Thomson. Already in an unfavorable situation against an unranked opponent, what would a loss on Saturday mean to him?
Not only would Melendez lose his status, but he would lose his championship and likely be stuck in the land of Strikeforce for the forseeable future. That fate sends chills down my spine.
In the main event, we see two fighters who have a lot on the line. Winning the Heavyweight Grand Prix as an alternate would be an incredible feat, and Daniel Cormier has the ability to conclude his Cinderella story on Saturday night. However, while Cormier has the most to gain on Saturday, as an underdog he is supposed to lose. At the end of the day, we all know that Cormier will wind up in the UFC, regardless of tomorrow night’s outcome.
Which brings us to the man who can lose everything: Josh Barnett. As a man who has failed three prior drug tests, if Barnett is defeated on Saturday night, he will have a greatly diminished appeal to the company he nearly destroyed a decade ago.
With the love/hate relationship that Barnett holds with UFC President Dana White, the only way at securing a job inside the Octagon is to win the Grand Prix. Without that bargaining chip, Barnett will find himself in possession of a pink slip and staring at the padlocked doors to the Zuffa offices.
Not only can Josh Barnett lose the tournament on Saturday, but he can lose his job, his spot in the rankings and any hope of ever fighting a top ranked heavyweight for the rest of his career. With the smaller paydays out on the independent circuit, you had better believe that Barnett knows that failure is not an option.
Tune in to Showtime for Strikeforce: Barnett vs Cormier on Saturday night. The main card airs at 10pm EST.
On Tuesday night, UFC fans were treated to an incredible night of action on the main card of UFC on Fuel 3. The Korean Zombie showed the world that he has evolved into a legitimate member of the MMA elite as he used vastly improved striking and ground …
On Tuesday night, UFC fans were treated to an incredible night of action on the main card of UFC on Fuel 3. The Korean Zombie showed the world that he has evolved into a legitimate member of the MMA elite as he used vastly improved striking and ground work to dictate the pace against Dustin Poirier.
The bout itself was highly entertaining with several near finishes and strong action from both fighters. Without question, fans will point to the contest as the moment where The Korean Zombie transformed from a tough fighter with a kickass nickname into a full-fledged title contender. Unfortunately, no one saw it.
Well, almost no one.
Yesterday, MMAJunkie.com confirmed with industry sources that UFC on Fuel TV 3 garnered a meager 173,000 viewers. Those numbers are not indicative of the UFC fan base, as Pay Per Views rarely attract less than 300,000 buys. Let me reiterate: buys, not viewers. Assuming PPVs are purchased by a group of four friends who split the cost, you’re looking at more than one million views on an undesirable card.
Fox is a fantastic partner for the UFC. Through association, they provide legitimacy within the mainstream that money can’t buy. With the prized 18-35 male demographic as a primary viewer, this deal was made in heaven for fight fans.
Part of the agreement included the production of events on FX and sister network Fuel TV. While FX is an established network with ultra-popular original programming like Sons of Anarchy and Rescue Me, I am not alone in saying that I was unaware of the existence of Fuel TV until the beginning of their relationship with the UFC.
Is it that the star power isn’t on Fuel? I’m sure that has something to do with it. The featherweight division isn’t tremendously popular, nor do they have any breakout stars until now. Outside of the main event, the biggest star on the card was Donald Cerrone—hardly a household name. However, the UFC is smart enough to save their marketable talent for events that people can actually tune in for.
The biggest culprit here is the fact that Fuel TV is simply not available to many MMA fans. While Fuel TV is available in 36 million homes nationwide, it is far below the national standard. In comparison, Spike TV is available in 96.1 million homes. As a Comcast customer myself, I have called several times and written a handful of emails in an attempt to demand that they offer UFC programming in its entirety.
Unfortunately, I am just one man. That is why the UFC needs your help. That is why your favorite lower-tier fighters need your help. That is why I need your help.
If everyone who reads this article is willing to send an email to their cable or satellite provider and demand Fuel TV, we can send a big message that this isn’t a problem that they can afford to ignore.
It’s a simple solution to a problem that affects us all. Keep in mind that the UFC is putting more than 2,000 hours of programming on Fuel in 2012 which includes live fights, post-show events and several countdown and preview events.
Right now, go to the website of your television provider and go to their Contact Us section. Writing an email takes only a few minutes. Make sure you tell them that you pay them good money every month and that you demand to have Fuel TV as part of your television package.
The voice of one is easily ignored. The voice of 10,000 is not.
It’s important that we find an opponent for Donald Cerrone quickly. In all honesty, when you consider the fact that Cerrone has fought six times for the UFC in the last 15 months, there is a decent chance that Cowboy has already signed a contract…
It’s important that we find an opponent for Donald Cerrone quickly. In all honesty, when you consider the fact that Cerrone has fought six times for the UFC in the last 15 months, there is a decent chance that Cowboy has already signed a contract for his next fight.
All jokes aside, Cerrone is a workhorse who is coming off a one-sided beatdown of slugger Jeremy Stephens. Last night was the 14th UFC fight for Stephens, and while he has seen his fair share of defeats, no one has ever manhandled him in the manner that we just witnessed.
Cerrone is back on track to make a break for the top. Here is a look at five possible opponents for his next fight.
Saturday night, Strikeforce brings us some big matchups. On the docket is the finals of the Heavyweight Grand Prix, a bout with the lightweight championship hanging in the balance, as well as intriguing battles in the light-heavyweight division. Let’s take a look at the fighters who can’t afford to lose this weekend.