Author: Damon Martin

Georges St-Pierre: Nick Diaz’s Trash Talk Same as Penn, Koscheck and All Others

To the untrained eye, former Strikeforce champion Nick Diaz is getting under the skin of UFC welterweight king Georges St-Pierre ahead of their fight at UFC 158. Diaz has poked and prodded at St-Pierre for months to earn the shot at the title this week…

To the untrained eye, former Strikeforce champion Nick Diaz is getting under the skin of UFC welterweight king Georges St-Pierre ahead of their fight at UFC 158.

Diaz has poked and prodded at St-Pierre for months to earn the shot at the title this weekend, and then on a recent media conference call, he unleashed a verbal tirade laced with four-letter expletives that even had the calm Canadian raise his voice, something that he’s rarely done in his career.

On paper, it appears Diaz‘s plan to get St-Pierre so emotionally charged that he can’t execute his game plan is working to perfection.  The only problem is Diaz‘s plan has been done several times before, and it has never worked.

Prior to their 2005 fight, former UFC welterweight Frank Trigg called St-Pierre a B-level fighter.  The result?  St-Pierre won by first-round rear-naked choke.

In 2009, B.J. Penn literally told St-Pierre (via MMAjunkie.com), “I’m going to try and kill you, Georges, and I’m not joking about that.”  St. Pierre pounded Penn to a fourth-round stoppage.

Josh Koscheck stuck to the fight itself before he took on St-Pierre in 2010, stating (via Fighters.com), “I don’t think Georges has a good chin and I don’t think his hands are that good.”  On their feet, St-Pierre destroyed Koscheck‘s orbital bone, winning by unanimous decision after 25 minutes.

Last week during a conference call, Diaz brought into question St-Pierre’s “pampered” lifestyle, where he has assistants to powder his nose and even run his Twitter account for him.

To St-Pierre, it’s all just white noise in the background, and Diaz is just another fly buzzing in his ear waiting to get squashed.

“I can count on one hand the guys that have been respectful with me.  All the other guys say the same stuff,” St-Pierre told Jay Mohr on the Jay Mohr Sports Hour on Tuesday.  “It’s the same song that comes back all the time.  It’s no problem.”

Leading up to the fight, all of the promotion has been surrounding St-Pierre’s comments to UFC President Dana White about how disrespectful Diaz has been and how he plans on beating down the Stockton bad boy worse than he’s ever been beaten before.

It’s common knowledge, however, that no amount of trash talking has ever led St-Pierre to advert from his strategy or actually feel some deep-seated personal hatred for an opponent.  So, is all the pre-fight talk just hype to sell pay-per-views, or does St-Pierre harbor some ill will toward Diaz that he’s never felt before?

“He’s been disrespectful, it’s true.  Of course I’m going to react because I’m not someone who gets himself being disrespected.  The truth is we both compete because we want to be the champion and Nick Diaz is a great fighter and that’s why we’re fighting each other,” said St-Pierre.

“It’s not only because he’s talking trash.”

From the sound of things, St-Pierre is headed toward another classic performance when he faces Diaz on Saturday night.  Despite all the trash talk and perceived disrespect, Diaz‘s words appear to be bouncing off of the champion like every previous opponent’s.

If Diaz is going to be the person to finally dethrone St-Pierre, it’s going to take a lot more than a few insults to get the fight to go his way.

Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report.

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Chael Sonnen Tells Jon Jones to “Stop Tweeting and Quit Trying to Be Like Me”

UFC 159 is still more than a month away, but that doesn’t mean main event fighters Jon Jones and Chael Sonnen won’t engage in a few verbal sparring sessions ahead of their showdown on April 27 in New Jersey. The two fighters are currently on air as coa…

UFC 159 is still more than a month away, but that doesn’t mean main event fighters Jon Jones and Chael Sonnen won’t engage in a few verbal sparring sessions ahead of their showdown on April 27 in New Jersey.

The two fighters are currently on air as coaches of the latest season of the Ultimate Fighter, but since filming for the reality show ended months ago, the anticipation leading to their fight is starting to reach a fever pitch.

Earlier this week, UFC light heavyweight king Jon Jones took to Twitter to relay a message to the “American Gangster” about how he plans on crushing his dreams of ever becoming a UFC champion and added a little extra kick about his plans to finish Sonnen when they meet at UFC 159.

Sonnen, who is no stranger to random Twitter outbursts, actually took to the airwaves on Tuesday night to respond to Jones.

Sonnen is the current co-host on Fuel TV’s UFC Tonight and he answered Jones’ messages and essentially told him that social networking is not his strong suit.

“I think Jon stop tweeting, quit trying to be me,” Sonnen stated.   “It makes you appear stupid and gives me material to ridicule you with.  Look if Jon Jones, a potted cactus, and a slice of pizza from my oven were all on Jeopardy, Jon Jones would not make the final round.”

The jabs didn’t stop there with Sonnen taking a few shots at Jones’ intelligence or perceived lack thereof because the former middleweight contender then offered congratulations to the champion before tossing in another quick shot to the body.

“On a lighter note, Jon you had another baby and in all seriousness congratulations. At this rate, by this time next year, you will be the Octomom of the Octagon,” Sonnen said.

Jones and his girlfriend recently welcomed their third child to the world, and Sonnen was obviously paying attention to the 25-year-old’s life outside of fighting. 

Jones and Sonnen‘s recent exchanges will only build hype around their fight taking place in New Jersey when the score will finally be settled at UFC 159.

Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report

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Ryan Bader out 6 to 8 Weeks with Knee Injury, Targets Summer Return

It’s fair to say Ryan Bader was very excited about his chance to stop the hype around light heavyweight contender Glover Teixeira at UFC 160, but a training injury derailed his plans. Bader was forced out of his scheduled bout against Teixeira this wee…

It’s fair to say Ryan Bader was very excited about his chance to stop the hype around light heavyweight contender Glover Teixeira at UFC 160, but a training injury derailed his plans.

Bader was forced out of his scheduled bout against Teixeira this week after suffering a knee injury that puts him on the sidelines for several weeks.

The former Ultimate Fighter winner was struggling with his knee after a workout, and when the pain didn’t subside, he ended up having an MRI to see what was going on. The result was an injury to his MCL (medial collateral ligament), according to his manager David Martin of the Martin Advisory Group, who spoke with Bleacher Report on Monday evening.

Following the results of the MRI, doctors advised Bader to stay out of any kind of activity for the next six to eight weeks to allow the knee to heal.

The timeline given to Bader suggests a tear in his MCL, but surgery is rarely recommended or required for an injury to that part of the knee. Doctors typically recommend immobilization of the knee followed by wearing a knee brace while the MCL continues to heal. 

According to Bader’s manager, the injury putting him out for the next six to eight weeks was just too much to allow him to try to take a fight scheduled at UFC 160, which takes place on May 25.

Bader was returning to action after a blistering performance in January where he submitted veteran fighter Vladimir Matyushenko in just 50 seconds at UFC on Fox 6 in Chicago. That put Bader’s record at 3-1 over his past four fights, with his lone loss coming to former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida last August at UFC on Fox 4.

For now, Bader will sit and let his knee heal to prevent any further damage being done so he can return at full health later this year.

Bader’s manager noted that his return could be targeted for a mid- to late summer timeline depending on when the UFC could and would be able to schedule him again.

Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report

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James Te Huna Replaces Ryan Bader, Faces Glover Teixeira at UFC 160

An injury has forced former The Ultimate Fighter winner Ryan Bader out of his scheduled showdown against rising star Glover Teixeira at UFC 160, and in his place steps heavy-handed New Zealander James Te Huna. Te Huna accepts the fight with just over t…

An injury has forced former The Ultimate Fighter winner Ryan Bader out of his scheduled showdown against rising star Glover Teixeira at UFC 160, and in his place steps heavy-handed New Zealander James Te Huna.

Te Huna accepts the fight with just over two months to go until the May 25 card going down at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

UFC officials announced the new matchup on Monday evening.

Training out of Australia by way of New Zealand, James Te Huna now joins his friend and countryman Mark Hunt on the UFC 160 show after he also accepted a late-notice bout against Junior dos Santos on the same card.

Te Huna comes to UFC 160 with a four-fight win streak and an overall record of 5-1 in the UFC, with his only loss coming to current top ranked light heavyweight contender Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 127 in 2011.

Since that time, Te Huna has roared back with four victories, including two by knockout. In his last two fights, Te Huna took out the ultra-tough Joey Beltran and then staged a comeback after almost succumbing to an early head kick courtesy of Ryan Jimmo to win at UFC on Fuel 7 in England in February.

Now Te Huna has his biggest opportunity since joining the UFC. He faces one of the fastest rising stars in the promotion in Brazilian Glover Teixeira.

Teixiera comes into the fight on an incredible 18-fight win streak, with three of those coming in the UFC.  Most recently, Teixeira dispatched former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson in a featured bout at UFC on Fox 6 in late January.

A longtime training partner and friend of UFC legend and Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell, Teixeira has been viewed as a serious title contender since day one in the UFC. He’ll look to continue that charge when he faces Te Huna in May.

The bout between Teixeira and Te Huna is expected to occupy a slot on the main card for UFC 160, which is headlined by UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez against top contender Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva.

Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report

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Jon Fitch Refutes Dana White, Says He’s Nowhere Near the Downside of His Career

The dust has barely settled on the reality that Jon Fitch is no longer in the UFC, but the former title contender is moving on from the negativity of being released to the happiness of signing his new deal with World Series of Fighting. The MMA world w…

The dust has barely settled on the reality that Jon Fitch is no longer in the UFC, but the former title contender is moving on from the negativity of being released to the happiness of signing his new deal with World Series of Fighting.

The MMA world was left with their collective jaws on the floor when the announcement was made at the time that Fitch, along with 15 other fighters, were being dropped from the promotion.  The shock surrounding Fitch happened because at the time he was still the No. 9 ranked welterweight in the world and had been a perennial top-10 fighter for most of his UFC career.

When UFC president Dana White explained his reasoning for releasing Fitch, he said the Indiana native was on the “downside” of his career after a recent run left him at 1-2-1 over his last four fights.  While the door wasn’t closed on Fitch coming back to the UFC, his current run was coming to an end.

Now a few weeks removed from the situation, Fitch has moved on and isn’t looking for revenge on the UFC for handing him his release.  He does say, however, that he’s nowhere near the “downside” of his career as White suggested.

“I think that’s a good point to make.  I’m finally making breakthroughs with my game and I’m getting to a new level with my training.  I don’t think I’m anywhere near the down turn of my career,” Fitch told Bleacher Report on Monday.   “I still think there’s a lot of great fights left in me and I think having a new opportunity and a new showcase to put myself out there, it’s going to be a better second half of my career.”

The second half of his career begins with his new home at World Series of Fighting in June when he makes his debut for the fledgling promotion. Leaving the UFC was just closing the chapter on one part of his life, and this is a new piece that will be written as he begins the next stage of his career.

“I still have a lot left to do in this sport.  I’m still healthy, I still love what I do, I have a great team around me, a great support system around me.  I’ve got a mouth to feed at home so there’s plenty going into the positive column for me in this next move,” said Fitch.

When Fitch left the UFC he was just a few months away from celebrating eight years with the promotion. During that time he racked up 14 wins, a championship bout and consistently stayed near the top of the welterweight rankings. 

Despite all those accolades and top-level fights, did Fitch get stuck in a rut while fighting with the UFC?

“It’s definitely geared an attitude change in me.  Maybe I was getting complacent before, a little bit.  All around I think this is going to work out the best for my career,” Fitch stated about his exit from the UFC.

The next stage of Fitch’s career kicks off in June when he headlines the third-ever World Series of Fight card that’s expected to take place in Las Vegas.  Fitch hopes to fight at least three or four times by the end of the year, and he’s excited that World Series of Fighting will keep him busy.

As far as the UFC goes, White said weeks ago that Fitch could definitely earn his way back to the promotion with the right kind of resume outside the Octagon, but the former Purdue wrestler isn’t even thinking about that avenue. Fitch is a World Series of Fighting fighter, and that’s who he’s loyal to now.

“Right now I don’t even have to worry about (the UFC) because I’ve got a nice contract, a four-fight deal, and I’ll be there for at least a year, maybe more,” said Fitch.   “So I don’t have to worry about that for at least a year.”

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

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Ratings Report: Ultimate Fighter Picture of Consistency, Bellator Down Slightly

Consistency has been the key for the Ultimate Fighter in terms of ratings for season 17, while Bellator’s ebb and flow continues as their transition to Spike TV builds to what they hope are much greater heights in 2013. Ultimate Fighter Season 17 Pictu…

Consistency has been the key for the Ultimate Fighter in terms of ratings for season 17, while Bellator‘s ebb and flow continues as their transition to Spike TV builds to what they hope are much greater heights in 2013.

Ultimate Fighter Season 17 Picture of Consistency

When the Ultimate Fighter moved to Tuesday nights for this latest season, everyone knew that the ratings for the long running reality show were all but a sure thing to improve after being placed on what is a traditionally very tough Friday night time slot.

So far all the predictions have been correct, and while season 17 hasn’t been breaking all time records, the show has returned to its old form in terms of consistency.

Episode 7 of the Ultimate Fighter that aired last Thursday pulled in an average of 1.259 million viewers according to a report from the Nielsen TV ratings with a .7 ratings share in the coveted 18-49 demographic.

Those numbers are an indication that the Ultimate Fighter seems to have found its groove for the latest season featuring coaches Jon Jones and Chael Sonnen, along with a new night and time slot ahead of the FX hit show Justified, which airs directly after TUF 17.

Here are the ratings for the Ultimate Fighter so far to this point in the season:

Episode 1: 1.51 million average

Episode 2: 1.30 million average

Episode 3: 1.20 million average

Episode 4: 1.25 million average

Episode 5: 1.13 million average

Episode 6: 1.14 million average

Episode 7: 1.259 million average

UFC president Dana White was also happy with the latest ratings, and has continued to rave about the show and the accolades they’ve received from FX as well.  This season is a dramatic improvement over last year when the show aired on Friday nights at 10pm with coaches Roy Nelson and Shane Carwin.

Season 16 of the reality show averaged well below 1 million viewers per episode and routinely dropped below the 700,000 viewer average.  The new season has been a hit in comparison with other FX programs.

FX Senior Vice President of Public Relations John Solberg also raved about the improvements of the Ultimate Fighter after episode six aired two weeks ago.

This week will mark the final preliminary bout of the season when Zak Cummings takes on Dylan Andrews as the show moves past the halfway point for the season, and starts heading towards the home stretch and the finale in mid-April.

Bellator Ratings Up and Down Again

Bellator has a new home at Spike TV and so far this season there have definitely been a lot more eyeballs on their product that past years when they ran shows on much smaller networks like MTV2. 

The problem Bellator seems to be having is finding out exactly when and where their audience is going to tune in week-to-week.

The latest Bellator show that took place last Thursday March 7 airing at 10pm featuring middleweight and featherweight tournament semifinals drew an average rating of 741,000 viewers for the two-hour broadcast.

While the star power on the latest show wasn’t as big, the previous week that featured a lackluster title bout between Christian M’Pumbu and Attila Vegh actually pulled in the second highest ratings since the promotion debuted on the network. Bellator 91 averaged 901,000 viewers and actually peaked at 1.05 million viewers during the title fight.

That show actually landed Bellator at No. 5 amongst basic cable networks in the male 18-49 demographic.

The previous week, which featured the finals of the Bellator featherweight tournament as well as the second fight for “King” Mo Lawal under the promotion’s banner drew in 791,000 viewers.

The season average for Bellator this year is still over 800,000 per episode, which is a rousing success compared the average viewers they were able to draw while on MTV2 or any other network they’ve been at prior to Spike TV.

The average viewers have spiked and fallen on a few occasions, but overall through eight weeks on Spike TV, Bellator has increased their viewership massively and their hope has to be to reach towards the one million viewer average by the close of 2013.  Bellator will also launch their first reality show later this year with Fight Master debuting sometime in the summer before the next season of fights begins on Spike TV.

The next Bellator show takes place on Thursday night, March 21 with lightweights Dave Jansen taking on Marcin Held as well as heavyweight action on the card.

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