Shawn Jordan: The Savage is Still Learning

Following an impressive career on the gridiron at Louisiana State University, you wouldn’t think Shawn Jordan would be fazed by stepping into an athletic competition in front of a packed arena.After all, LSU plays their home games before more than 90,000 people at Tiger Stadium, and Jordan was a part of two National Championship teams during his time donning the purple and yellow. But there is a difference between stepping onto the football field with your teammates and walking into the Octagon solo, and despite his big game experience, the UFC heavyweight is still getting used to being one of … Read the Full Article Here

Following an impressive career on the gridiron at Louisiana State University, you wouldn’t think Shawn Jordan would be fazed by stepping into an athletic competition in front of a packed arena.After all, LSU plays their home games before more than 90,000 people at Tiger Stadium, and Jordan was a part of two National Championship teams during his time donning the purple and yellow. But there is a difference between stepping onto the football field with your teammates and walking into the Octagon solo, and despite his big game experience, the UFC heavyweight is still getting used to being one of … Read the Full Article Here

Tyron Woodley: Ready for His Encore

Back in February, former Strikeforce welterweight standout Tyron Woodley needed just 36 seconds to make his presence felt in the UFC, leveling veteran Jay Hieron with a blistering right hand. In a year filled with impressive first showings, Woodley’s debut might be the best of the bunch so far.Now, he’s ready for his encore.Saturday night at UFC 161, Woodley welcomes Jake Shields back to the 170-pound fold in a matchup destined to have an impact on the divisional standings. After the two former Strikeforce competitors both lobbied to fill the void left opposite Carlos Condit at UFC 158 when Ro … Read the Full Article Here

Back in February, former Strikeforce welterweight standout Tyron Woodley needed just 36 seconds to make his presence felt in the UFC, leveling veteran Jay Hieron with a blistering right hand. In a year filled with impressive first showings, Woodley’s debut might be the best of the bunch so far.Now, he’s ready for his encore.Saturday night at UFC 161, Woodley welcomes Jake Shields back to the 170-pound fold in a matchup destined to have an impact on the divisional standings. After the two former Strikeforce competitors both lobbied to fill the void left opposite Carlos Condit at UFC 158 when Ro … Read the Full Article Here

Brian Bowles: Allow Me to Reintroduce Myself

No matter your pedigree or previous success, each month spent on the sidelines in mixed martial arts pushes you further into the shadows.If you happen to press pause on your career following a loss, your starting point in the background is a little deeper than normal too. With each passing event, another new name steps up, another veteran talent collects another good win, and your name falls out of the conversation.Before too long, you’re the subject of a “Whatever happened to…” thread on The Underground forum.That’s the position Brian Bowles has been in for the last 18 months. The former WEC … Read the Full Article Here

No matter your pedigree or previous success, each month spent on the sidelines in mixed martial arts pushes you further into the shadows.If you happen to press pause on your career following a loss, your starting point in the background is a little deeper than normal too. With each passing event, another new name steps up, another veteran talent collects another good win, and your name falls out of the conversation.Before too long, you’re the subject of a “Whatever happened to…” thread on The Underground forum.That’s the position Brian Bowles has been in for the last 18 months. The former WEC … Read the Full Article Here

Cain Velasquez: Here Comes the Reign

It is a select group of fighters who step into the Octagon early in their careers and convince everyone watching that championship gold is in their future.Georges St-Pierre was that way.You immediately saw the talent, the potential, and the athleticism. Though he came up short in his first attempt to capture the welterweight title, the “future champion” label remained, and the French-Canadian superstar has since gone on to exceed everyone’s lofty expectations by putting together the greatest career of anyone to have competed in the welterweight division.Jon Jones earned that label as well.In j … Read the Full Article Here

It is a select group of fighters who step into the Octagon early in their careers and convince everyone watching that championship gold is in their future.Georges St-Pierre was that way.You immediately saw the talent, the potential, and the athleticism. Though he came up short in his first attempt to capture the welterweight title, the “future champion” label remained, and the French-Canadian superstar has since gone on to exceed everyone’s lofty expectations by putting together the greatest career of anyone to have competed in the welterweight division.Jon Jones earned that label as well.In j … Read the Full Article Here

Mike Pyle: Taking an Old School Approach to Becoming a Contender

Mike Pyle is a self-described “old, country boy.”He speaks deliberately, with conviction and a slight twang, a remnant of his Tennessee roots. He’s been around the block a time or two, having fought for a handful of regional outfits and a half-dozen name brand organizations over a career that spans more than 13 years and 30 fights.Guys like him have a certain way of doing things, even if it may not be the way business has been getting done recently.“I’m not going to talk my way into an ass whipping, that’s for sure,” says the 37-year-old, referencing the recent trend of fighters who talked the … Read the Full Article Here

Mike Pyle is a self-described “old, country boy.”He speaks deliberately, with conviction and a slight twang, a remnant of his Tennessee roots. He’s been around the block a time or two, having fought for a handful of regional outfits and a half-dozen name brand organizations over a career that spans more than 13 years and 30 fights.Guys like him have a certain way of doing things, even if it may not be the way business has been getting done recently.“I’m not going to talk my way into an ass whipping, that’s for sure,” says the 37-year-old, referencing the recent trend of fighters who talked the … Read the Full Article Here

Gray Maynard: The Bully is Back

August 28, 2010. UFC 118.That was the last time “The Bully” bullied someone around the cage en route to a victory.That night, at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, Gray Maynard dominated hometown boy Kenny Florian to earn his 11th victory, and a shot at the UFC lightweight title. A trio of outings has followed, each one painful for its own specific reasons.There was the championship draw with Frankie Edgar at UFC 125 on the first day of 2011 – a bitter pill to swallow given the one-sided nature of the first five minutes, and made worse after the bout when it seemed like a rematch wasn’t i … Read the Full Article Here

August 28, 2010. UFC 118.That was the last time “The Bully” bullied someone around the cage en route to a victory.That night, at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, Gray Maynard dominated hometown boy Kenny Florian to earn his 11th victory, and a shot at the UFC lightweight title. A trio of outings has followed, each one painful for its own specific reasons.There was the championship draw with Frankie Edgar at UFC 125 on the first day of 2011 – a bitter pill to swallow given the one-sided nature of the first five minutes, and made worse after the bout when it seemed like a rematch wasn’t i … Read the Full Article Here