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Dana White: Johny Hendricks Following the Same Path as Chuck Liddell

Johny Hendricks didn’t just have to go through one contender to finally earn a shot at the UFC welterweight title. He had to go through a former interim champion and three top ten fighters to finally get his crack at the belt, and it’s a similar path …

UFC Hall of Fame member and former light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell had to go through just about every top name at 205-pounds before finally getting his shot at then champion Tito Ortiz.

UFC President Dana White, who appeared on the Jay Mohr Show on Fox Sports Radio on Wednesday, said there were definitely similarities between Hendricks and Liddell. Both fighters let their performances earn title shots, not their mouths.

“Very Chuck Liddell-esque, he did it the same way Chuck Liddell did, very true. Chuck Liddell just kept taking out competitor after competitor, you know top contenders waiting for Tito (Ortiz) to fight him. Finally, Chuck got his due,” said White.

“I agree, Johny Hendricks has done it the exact same way.”

One way Hendricks may want to avoid the Liddell route to the title is the fact that the former champion actually lost before he ever even got his chance to face Ortiz in the Octagon. Liddell lost to fellow UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture in an interim light heavyweight title fight before a few bouts later finally getting his hands on Ortiz in a non-title matchup.

Liddell dispatched of Ortiz, and then moved on to beat Couture in a rematch to finally claim his first UFC gold.

Hendricks has definitely seen a few twists and turns on his road to a title shot, but now he appears to be on the precipice of finally getting his chance to dethrone champion Georges St-Pierre. White even admits that Hendricks has walked a murderer’s row of opponents to finally get to where he’s standing now, but after beating former interim champion Carlos Condit at UFC 158 there was no doubt he more than earned his chance to compete for the belt.

“I’m actually happy that he ended up fighting Carlos Condit, because that fight really was to see who the No. 1 contender was,” White stated. “I’m still talking about that fight today.”

The fight between Hendricks and Condit earned both fighters a $50,000 “Fight of the Night” bonus, but more importantly it put Hendricks next in line for a shot at the belt. Hendricks is already being held in pretty esteemed company being compared to UFC icon Chuck Liddell, and if his career can walk nearly the same road he’ll be consider a legend in his own right when he finally calls it quits.

For now, Hendricks is just working to get back in the gym so he can start preparation for his shot at St-Pierre whenever the fight gets made.

Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.

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Lavar Johnson Faces Suspension and Fine After Positive Drug Test at UFC 157

The drug test results from UFC 157 in Anaheim have been returned, and heavyweight Lavar Johnson has been flagged for an infraction after his test returned positive. According to Andy Foster, executive director of the California State Athletic Commissio…

The drug test results from UFC 157 in Anaheim have been returned, and heavyweight Lavar Johnson has been flagged for an infraction after his test returned positive.

According to Andy Foster, executive director of the California State Athletic Commission, Johnson’s test returned with “adverse” results, so a second test was run that came back consistent with steroid usage.

“His first test came back bad, but I wanted confirmation so I ran the carbon-isotope ratio test. I had UCLA WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) lab run that and it came back adverse, which means the results are consistent with the administration of a steroid,” Foster told Bleacher Report on Wednesday.

All of the other fighters tested on the UFC 157 card came back clean.

With Johnson’s positive test returned after the second carbon-isotope test was run, the commission will now move forward with a possible suspension and fine for the UFC heavyweight if he chooses to accept it.

“I’m really waiting for Lavar to decide what he wants to do. I’m offering him an administrative suspension from me as the executive officer, or if he wants to appeal he can go to the commission and see what they want to do with him,” Foster stated.

Foster, who was appointed executive director last November, said that Johnson’s possible suspension will likely be between six and nine months. But he plans on reaching out to Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Director Keith Kizer to try and reach a consensus for suspensions for these types of infractions to make the punishment as consistent as possible across all state commissions.

Johnson would also face a small fine for the positive test if he chooses to accept the suspension from the commission.

“What I told Lavar was that his monetary fine for me, at least if he chooses to take my suspension, will be the cost of my two tests that I ran. I think it will be somewhere around $1,250,” Foster stated.

Since the test results have been returned, Johnson has not made a statement about the issue, and Foster said he is still waiting to hear back from the fighter about his decision to accept the suspension and fine or file an appeal to go before the commission for a full hearing.

Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report, and all quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

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Bellator 92: Dave Jansen & Marcin Held Both Ready to Move onto Michael Chandler

The upcoming lightweight tournament final between Dave Jansen and Marcin Held is a long time coming, and both fighters are ready to get this fight behind them and move on to a title fight against Michael Chandler. Originally scheduled for last December…

Originally scheduled for last December, the fight was delayed when Bellator held their event at a casino in Indiana. But because Held was only 20 years of age at the time they could not allow him entry, and the bout had to be delayed.

It was pushed back to early March when yet another delay forced the fight to get moved to this weekend’s card in Maine.

Both Held and Jansen voiced their frustration with the situation because as every fighter prepares for a showdown, the goal is to peak at the right time and make sure their body is perfectly conditioned for a certain date.

“It’s been a little frustrating,” Jansen told Bleacher Report about the situation. “I try to remain in the moment and not make a problem out of it. It’s a situation and like anything I try to deal with the situations in my life, not focus on the negative. There are some positives. I got more time to prepare and work a solid strategy and still cleaning up my boxing and got to focus on some more leg lock defense as well.”

Held was on board with his opponent, and while neither fighter was upset with the other about the delays, they are both ready to move on to new challenges.

“I’ve been waiting for this fight for a long time. I can’t wait anymore,” Held said.

The end goal when this fight is done will be a matchup against Bellator lightweight champion and undefeated top-10 fighter Michael Chandler. Since making his debut for Bellator, Chandler has been an unstoppable machine going through opponent after opponent including his title fight win over former champion Eddie Alvarez.

Held actually faced Chandler in March 2011 and lost the fight by arm triangle choke as the former Missouri wrestler marched towards a tournament win and the eventual championship. Now two years later, Held is excited for the chance to show Chandler the kind of fighter he’s grown into since their last encounter.

“I would like to fight with him. I’m more experienced, I’m older, I’m stronger, so I would like to try again, but first I have to win the fight with Dave Jansen,” said Held.

As much as Jansen would like to say he hasn’t thought about facing Michael Chandler, he can’t ignore the reality of what happens should he win on Thursday night. Chandler has grown to become one of the true faces of Bellator, and getting the chance to fight him and battle for the gold is a dream worth dreaming.

Jansen is confident that his mind is solely zeroed in on Held right now, but he’s thought about how he matches up with Chandler, and he likes his chances.

“I think about it no doubt, but I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it. I feel like having a title fight in the future has been on my mind, but it’s not distracting me. The fight in front of me is the biggest fight of my life, and then when I face Michael Chandler that will be the biggest fight of my life,” said Jansen.

“Everyone’s got holes in their game. I’ve got holes in mine, Marcin’s got holes in his, and Michael Chandler is human like the rest of us. I like my chances against any fighter at 155-pounds. I’m looking forward to these opportunities and what doors they will open for me.”

Only one of them will actually get the chance to face Chandler and that will be determined on Thursday night when Jansen and Held battle in the main event of Bellator 92.

Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and all quotes were obtained first hand unless otherwise noted

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Paulo Filho: Once the No. 2 Middleweight, Now He’s Just Seeking a 2nd Chance

It was less than six years ago that Paulo Filho was considered the only middleweight in the world who could give UFC champion Anderson Silva a run for his money. The Brazilian was 15-0 at the time after going undefeated through his run in both Pride FC…

It was less than six years ago that Paulo Filho was considered the only middleweight in the world who could give UFC champion Anderson Silva a run for his money.

The Brazilian was 15-0 at the time after going undefeated through his run in both Pride FC and the WEC, including his second-round submission over future UFC contender Chael Sonnen.

That’s when Filho‘s entire life and career fell apart.

Sonnen was granted a rematch for Filho‘s WEC title due to the controversial nature of the ending surrounding their first fight, when the “American Gangster” got trapped in an armbar and screamed but claimed he never tapped out from the move. On weigh-in day, Filho came in at 189 pounds, four over the limit for a middleweight title fight.

The bout was then changed to a three-round nontitle match, and Filho‘s performance could only be described as abysmal. Sonnen won that night, and then as the WEC‘s middleweight division was absorbed into the UFC, Filho was left out of the deal and had no home to call his own.

The next few years for Filho were something akin to reading the gossip columns any time Lindsay Lohan’s name is mentioned. A struggle with drug addiction and money issues had Filho actually retire in 2011, but that was short lived and he returned to action a year later in his home country of Brazil.

Now for the first time since the loss to Sonnen back in 2008, Filho will step foot on American soil to fight for World Series of Fighting. He takes on David Branch at the promotion’s second show this weekend in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

“His manager says Paulo’s in a different place, obviously we all go through ups and downs in life and he’s gone through his downs and now he’s looking to make a return,” World Series of Fighting president Ray Sefo told Bleacher Report about Filho‘s return. “He just fought in September I believe against Shogun’s (Rua) brother Ninja (Murilo Rua) and stopped him, so I think right now he’s in that point in his life before he retires from the game he wants to make another run at it and show the world what he’s really made of.”

The personal turmoil in Filho‘s life obviously bled over into his professional life and caused a once-great middleweight to falter and spiral down the ladder. Since losing to Sonnen in the WEC, Filho has posted a 7-3-2 record, which by all accounts isn’t a bad mark at all, but it’s a far cry from when he was undefeated and considered the No. 2 middleweight in the world.

Sefo has seen every part of the fight game, however, the highs and the lows, and he believes everybody is worthy of a second chance. This is Filho‘s time to prove he can still go with the best in the world.

“I think everybody deserves a second chance. Paulo Filho‘s one of those guys as well. Listen, you never lose your talent, you don’t lose your skills, but you’ve got to have the hunger and the drive to make a comeback,” Sefo stated.

“It sounds like he does have that hunger and he does have that drive, and he definitely has all the skills. It’s just a matter of time to give him that opportunity.”

Filho will get that opportunity on Saturday night when he faces off with David Branch at World Series of Fighting 2. While it’s unlikely Filho will ever regain the status he once carried as an elite middleweight in the world, he can still find some level of redemption by looking like there are still shades of that once-great 185-pound fighter lurking inside of him.

Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

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Cris “Cyborg” Santos Gets New Opponent Ahead of Debut at Invicta 5

An injury has forced one of the major bouts at Invicta 5, which is coming up next weekend, to make a change as Ediane Gomes has suffered an injury and is out of her scheduled fight against former Strikeforce champ Cris “Cyborg” Santos. Invicta official…

Invicta officials announced Gomes‘ injury on Tuesday, but it didn’t take long for them to find a replacement and it happens to be somebody else already scheduled for the card.

Fiona Muxlow, who was originally scheduled to face off against Julia Budd on the card, will instead face Santos as one of the featured bouts on the Invicta 5 internet pay-per-view.

The new fight was confirmed by Invicta officials on Tuesday evening.

Fiona Muxlow comes to Invicta with a 6-2 record overall primarily fighting out of her home area in Australia.

Ironically enough, Muxlow‘s last fight was a loss to current Invicta 145-pound contender Marloes Coenen at the DREAM New Year’s Eve show to close 2012. Muxlow lost to Coenen by first round armbar in Japan.

The expected plan for the winner of the bout between Santos and Muxlow is to face Coenen next for the inaugural Invicta featherweight women’s world title.

Muxlow is facing a tall order stepping in on short notice to face Santos, who returns to action after more than a year away from the sport after testing positive for a banned substance following her last fight in Strikeforce at the end of 2011.

Since that time, Santos has exited Strikeforce after the promotion dissolved, and with her fighting weight at 145-pounds, she’s ineligible to sign with the UFC because they only currently have the 135-pound women’s division.

Instead, Santos signed a multi-fight deal with Invicta with hopes of fighting next weekend, and then battling Coenen for the first ever featherweight title for the promotion.

The fight between Santos and Muxlow will be the third featured bout on the night’s card behind the two title fights that lead the way. Jessice Penne will put up her 105-pound title against Greg Jackson student Michelle Waterson, while Vanessa Porto faces Barb Honchak for the first ever Invicta flyweight title.

Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report

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Darren Elkins Sees Chad Mendes as His “Fast Track” to Title Contention

Sometimes it’s all about being in the right place at the right time, and Darren Elkins now knows that all too well. At UFC 158 last weekend, Elkins wanted to make a statement while winning his fifth fight in a row at featherweight and he did that in dr…

Sometimes it’s all about being in the right place at the right time, and Darren Elkins now knows that all too well.

At UFC 158 last weekend, Elkins wanted to make a statement while winning his fifth fight in a row at featherweight and he did that in dramatic fashion with a first-round knockout over Antonio Carvalho.

Typically after a fight, the competitors look forward to a little rest and relaxation, maybe even some unhealthy food just to move past the rigors of a long training camp, but before Elkins left Montreal he already had his next fight booked.

“It happened pretty much that night actually,” Elkins revealed when speaking to Bleacher Report on Tuesday. “I knew Clay Guida was out, but I knew he was hurt and my manager talked to me and said ‘what do you think about fighting Chad Mendes?’. We met up when we were down there (in Montreal), I was healthy, I’m in shape right now, and with the type of opponent they wanted to give Chad Mendes we’re tied up so it made sense.”

Elkins had been gunning for a top-ten opponent ever since he debuted at 145-pounds, but the problem recently has been none of those fighters were available or already booked in other fights.

When Elkins heard about the unfortunate injury to Clay Guida, he jumped at the chance to step in and face a former title contender like Chad Mendes.

“This is definitely what I’ve been looking for, this type of fight,” said Elkins. “This is a huge fight in front of me, a huge opportunity, and I’m in shape already. It’s not as long of a camp as I would like, but all I’ll have to do is make adjustments for Chad Mendes. That’s the big thing.”

Since losing a fight to featherweight champion Jose Aldo, Chad Mendes has turned into a wrecking machine. His last two fights in a row have gone a combined 2 minutes and 26 seconds with knockouts ending both in a flash.

Elkins knows that Mendes is not going to be an easy problem to conquer, but if fights were easy everybody would be a champion.

“He’s tough, he’s getting better each fight; he’s got great wrestling, he’s got power on his hands, but I’m getting better, too. It’s an exciting matchup,” Elkins stated. “We’re both wrestlers, we’re both going to come out there swinging and we’re going to set a high pace and I think it’s going to be an awesome fight to watch.”

With five wins in a row at featherweight, Elkins would move to six with a victory over Mendes, but more importantly he would defeat one of the top contenders at 145-pounds. Following his win on Saturday, Elkins was hoping for a top-ten fight.

If he can get by Mendes, Elkins could be staring down a title shot by the end of the year.

“He’s on a tear obviously and he deserves to be right behind Jose Aldo. If I beat him, that’s a huge statement. That gets me ahead of a lot of people and that’s why I took the opportunity. I can’t wait,” said Elkins.

“It’s definitely my fast track and that’s how I look at it.”

Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and all quotes were obtained first hand unless otherwise noted.

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