Author: Ben Fowlkes

Gerald Harris Expecting Fireworks From Brazilian Newcomer at UFC 123

Filed under: UFCWhen Gerald Harris (17-2) looks at Maiquel Falcao (25-3) — the Brazilian Chute Boxe product who he’ll welcome to the Octagon at UFC 123 this Saturday — what he sees is a fighter who is, in his words, “kind of the opposite of me.”

“He…

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When Gerald Harris (17-2) looks at Maiquel Falcao (25-3) — the Brazilian Chute Boxe product who he’ll welcome to the Octagon at UFC 123 this Saturday — what he sees is a fighter who is, in his words, “kind of the opposite of me.”

“He’s coming in there to take your head off, not a lot of technique involved,” Harris told MMA Fighting. “His main strength is trying to stand up and beat you down.”

It just so happens that Harris’ strength is taking guys like that down, often with destructive results. The best example of that came in his last fight at UFC 116, where Harris knocked fellow middleweight Dave Branch out cold with a third-round slam. The finish earned him Knockout of the Night honors, and even landed him on Sportscenter — a distinction that still defines him to many fans.

Falling Action: Best and Worst of UFC 122

Filed under: UFCSometimes it’s the events that look the weakest on paper that end up delivering the biggest surprises on fight night. It just so happens that UFC 122 was not one of those events.

With the majority of the main card bouts ending in decis…

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Sometimes it’s the events that look the weakest on paper that end up delivering the biggest surprises on fight night. It just so happens that UFC 122 was not one of those events.

With the majority of the main card bouts ending in decisions and possibly the most interesting match-up being pulled altogether in the final hour, I think it’s safe to say that no one’s going to be telling their grandchildren where they were the night the UFC came to Oberhausen.

That’s just how it goes in this business sometimes. All you can do is move on to the next one and hope the stars align on some other night. Until then, let’s sift through the rubble to find out who are the biggest winners, losers, and everything in between after UFC 122.

Marc Ratner Reveals Why UFC Decided to Return to Germany for UFC 122

Filed under: UFCMany people questioned the UFC’s decision to return to Germany, where the public sentiment towards MMA isn’t overwhelmingly positive. UFC 122 might have been held in Oberhausen this past weekend, but the fights weren’t even available on…

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Many people questioned the UFC’s decision to return to Germany, where the public sentiment towards MMA isn’t overwhelmingly positive. UFC 122 might have been held in Oberhausen this past weekend, but the fights weren’t even available on TV in the host country.

But as UFC VP of regulatory affairs Marc Ratner told Ariel Helwani on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour, the mixed feelings about MMA from politicians and local media are precisely why the UFC decided to go back to Germany.

“To grow the sport, you have to keep educating,” Ratner said. “We want to do business in Germany. We want to show the people and the newspaper people…that’s the only way to do it. If you just walk away and say, ‘Gee, they won’t let us be on TV,’ it doesn’t make sense. So we’re just going to keep pushing. It was the right decision and I’m glad we did it.”

The MMA Wrap-Up: Post-UFC 122 Edition

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With UFC 122 in the books, The MMA Wrap-Up returns to look at what we learned from watching Yushin Okami and Nate Marquardt do the grand old decision waltz in Germany over the weekend.

What does it mean when a couple of middleweights can’t even get all that visibly worked up for a chance at a title shot? And what should the UFC take away from a European fight card that seemed to disappoint the locals and make even the people watching for free on Spike TV want to demand their money back? It’s all covered in this week’s episode, and in less time than it takes to eat a bowl of cereal.

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With UFC 122 in the books, The MMA Wrap-Up returns to look at what we learned from watching Yushin Okami and Nate Marquardt do the grand old decision waltz in Germany over the weekend.

What does it mean when a couple of middleweights can’t even get all that visibly worked up for a chance at a title shot? And what should the UFC take away from a European fight card that seemed to disappoint the locals and make even the people watching for free on Spike TV want to demand their money back? It’s all covered in this week’s episode, and in less time than it takes to eat a bowl of cereal.

Falling Action: Best and Worst of WEC 52

Filed under: WECWhen the WEC disappears from the series of tubes and dishes that comprise cable TV at the end of this year, there’s some stuff I certainly won’t miss. The local news quality graphics, the budget-saver production values, the pint-sized p…

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When the WEC disappears from the series of tubes and dishes that comprise cable TV at the end of this year, there’s some stuff I certainly won’t miss. The local news quality graphics, the budget-saver production values, the pint-sized paychecks – all that can be easily forgotten.

But, as WEC 52 showed on Thursday night, the loss of this guaranteed night of action-packed fights on free TV is something that’s going to leave a void in our lives. Once again the little fighters delivered, bringing us several entertaining scraps for 145 pounds or less. For consistent quality of performances over the years, no organization has delivered like the WEC.

Getting the call to move up to the big show is good for the fighters and their bank accounts, as well as the sport in general, but it’s still bittersweet for those of us who are only now realizing how much we took for granted over the years.

But enough brooding, on to the biggest winners, losers, and everything in between from WEC 52.

Fighter vs. Writer: UFC 122 Predictions With Gerald Harris

Filed under: UFCWhen last we left the Fighter vs. Writer series, I came to what I choose to think of as a very respectable draw against Jason “Mayhem” Miller. You could point out that if I hadn’t felt the need to be contrary and pick Martin Kampmann ov…

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When last we left the Fighter vs. Writer series, I came to what I choose to think of as a very respectable draw against Jason “Mayhem” Miller. You could point out that if I hadn’t felt the need to be contrary and pick Martin Kampmann over Jake Shields, I would have won. To that I’d say, ‘You’re right, you jerk. I guess you just know everything, don’t you?’

But rather than dwell on hypothetical conversations that exist only in my head, we move forward to UFC 122 and a fight-picking showdown with former “Ultimate Fighter” contestant and recent Sportscenter highlight-maker Gerald Harris, who took some time out from training for his fight at UFC 123 next weekend to match wits with me.

Unlike Gerald, I haven’t slammed my way on to ESPN (yet), but I feel pretty good about my prognosticating powers this week. That is why I now turn awkwardly toward the “Hurricane” and utter the four most important words in the English language: You wanna do it?