The UFC is becoming more popular by the minute.President Dana White has done his absolute best in bringing the most skilled MMA fighters in the world to the UFC, offering loyal fans the most diverse fightcards on a month-to-month basis.Prominent names …
The UFC is becoming more popular by the minute.
President Dana White has done his absolute best in bringing the most skilled MMA fighters in the world to the UFC, offering loyal fans the most diverse fightcards on a month-to-month basis.
Prominent names like Alistair Overeem, Nick Diaz, Hatsu Hioki and Fabricio Werdum have made their way to the UFC over the past few months, translating into deeper and more extravagant divisions.
Heading into 2012, following Brock Lesnar‘s destruction of Overeem at UFC 141, White and the Fertitta brothers need to do everything in their power to continue this expansion trend.
With that said, here are 12 fighters that the UFC needs to sign, now.
It’s that time of the year.Glowing blue lights, blow-up lawn ornaments, boatloads of wrapping and cheerful people around the world are doing their very best to ring in Christmas.Remember, this could be the last Christmas known to man, if and when the w…
It’s that time of the year.
Glowing blue lights, blow-up lawn ornaments, boatloads of wrapping and cheerful people around the world are doing their very best to ring in Christmas.
Remember, this could be the last Christmas known to man, if and when the world does in fact end in 2012 (which has a better chance of happening than Tank Abbott making a comeback).
But despite the fairy tales we are passing on to unsuspecting minds, there’s no better time for giving then that infamous 25th day of December.
Children embrace it, parents endure it and yes, even UFC fighters enjoy the holidays.
So by keeping the tradition of the Christmas spirit throughout Bleacher Report and the sport of MMA, here are 20 ironic gifts for 20 well-deserving fighters.
Along with trying to establish mixed martial arts in American sports culture, MMA promoters like the UFC, Strikeforce and Bellator are competing against the excepted assumptions of the sport in today’s mainstream media, including news outlets, uneducat…
Along with trying to establish mixed martial arts in American sports culture, MMA promoters like the UFC, Strikeforce and Bellator are competing against the excepted assumptions of the sport in today’s mainstream media, including news outlets, uneducated fans, ill-advised combat followers and more.
With obvious aspects of MMA weighing on the first impressions of ordinary sports fans, such as rules, how fighters train and how barbaric it really is, the potential for growth heading into the future becomes somewhat limited.
However, people need to understand that MMA is only getting stronger, so by subjecting yourself to the truths about the sport and companies like the UFC, you’re only giving in to the inevitable.
With that said, here are the top-10 things that mainstream media misunderstands about the sport of MMA and the UFC included.
As we approach the end of December, more specifically UFC 141, it’s important to remember how we got here.This year may have offered the best fights ever in a 12-month span.From Anderson Silva and Jon Jones KO title defenses, to two championship bouts …
As we approach the end of December, more specifically UFC 141, it’s important to remember how we got here.
This year may have offered the best fights ever in a 12-month span.
From Anderson Silva and Jon Jones KO title defenses, to two championship bouts between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard, this year has encompassed unbelievable knockouts, submissions, comeback victories and legendary showdowns.
To be honest with you, constructing this list was a lot harder than I initially expected, considering the magnitude of fights and depth of talent that the UFC gives its fans on a monthly basis.
With that said, along with the expectations of UFC 141 being a legitimate PPV event to ring in the new year, here are the top 10 UFC events of 2011.
I apologize in advance if anybody is offended because their favorite fighters, or fights, fail to make this list. There were simply too many jaw-dropping events.
And a quick heads up. George St. Pierre and BJ Penn are not on this list. Probably the only time over the past five years in which you can’t call me crazy for not throwing them on here. Enjoy.
Do you now believe?Between the massive tweets and eccentric fans who tuned into UFC 140, the MMA community witnessed Jon Jones’ deciding victory over the aggressive Lyoto Machida Saturday night.Whether it was the nasty gash on Machida’s forehead, compl…
Do you now believe?
Between the massive tweets and eccentric fans who tuned into UFC 140, the MMA community witnessed Jon Jones’ deciding victory over the aggressive Lyoto Machida Saturday night.
Whether it was the nasty gash on Machida’s forehead, compliments of a Jones elbow, or the out-of-this-world standing guillotine that ended the fight in the second round, Jones’ decisive win over a top contender was everything justifiable.
Heading into UFC 140, many people, whether they wanted to or not, disregarded Jones as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, considering he had only defended his UFC light heavyweight championship once.
But following this victory, one that came after a first-round barrage of Machida strikes, what’s left to say about Jones?
Honestly, not much. I mean, what can you say?
He is, right now, the best fighter in the world. Whether you disagree in respect for middleweight champion Anderson Silva, or if you just don’t want to crown a 24-year-old the “great one,” Jones’ dominance reigns true in any fashion.
The guy has only been training MMA for four years, and he has already captured glory at the grandest scale. To think that his victory over Machida Saturday night wasn’t part of some glorious UFC destination seems unrewarding and unfair to a guy who has done everything—in and out of the Octagon—to perfection.
At this point in his career, with his striking ability, quick reactions to limit damage and his unorthodox submissions, Jones has simply transformed into a younger Silva.
Not only because he resembles Silva through length, speed and demeanor, but because his attitude and success in the cage proves too valuable to pass up.
Think about it this way. Can you imagine what the UFC would witness is Silva was currently 24 years old?
It’d be madness.
One fighter who has the power to take over the sport. One athlete who can transcend his predecessors at every level. One man who can shift the sport into mainstream America and rule mixed martial arts for the next decade.
Well, look no further. Imagination or not, Jon Jones is currently that guy.
Be sure to stay tuned to Bleacher Report for all things UFC 140. B/R is your home for complete coverage of the December 10 fight card, from pre-fight predictions toin-fight coverage, resultsand post-fight analysis.
The UFC is more stacked than it’s ever been.With the emergence of Jon Jones, Frankie Edgar and Dominick Cruz as perennial champions, a lot of fighters are being overlooked heading into 2012.But along with the UFC’s dynamic capitalization of the WEC’s B…
The UFC is more stacked than it’s ever been.
With the emergence of Jon Jones, Frankie Edgar and Dominick Cruz as perennial champions, a lot of fighters are being overlooked heading into 2012.
But along with the UFC’s dynamic capitalization of the WEC’s Bantamweight and Featherweight divisions, the sheer evolution of the modern day mixed martial artist has given fans and experts the privilege in witnessing top-notch bouts on an event-to-event basis.
With that said, beyond the explosive knockouts, come-from-behind victories, unprecedented upsets and toe-to-toe battles of 2011, it’s time to reign in the new year.
Wily veterans, top prospects and near-contenders are continuously fighting for their chances to revenge a championships loss, or spark a new era of excellence in their respective divisions.
Here are 15 fighters who have the opportunities to shock the UFC community and capture 2012 gold.
Do you now believe?