Author: Danny Acosta

UFC 132: Trainer Jason Parillo on the Punch and Perspective for Tito Ortiz

Jason Parillo was in the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. for UFC 121 last October when Tito Ortiz dropped to 0-4-1 in his last five contests in front of a hometown audience, remaining winless since 2006. “He wanted to be there, but he didn’t want to wi…

Jason Parillo was in the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. for UFC 121 last October when Tito Ortiz dropped to 0-4-1 in his last five contests in front of a hometown audience, remaining winless since 2006.

“He wanted to be there, but he didn’t want to win a fight. I texted him as I was watching him leave the Octagon, I said, ‘I got your next fight. I’ll take care of you.’ He took me up on it,” the boxing trainer told Bleacher Report after Ortiz knocked down Ryan Bader and submitted him via first-round guillotine choke at UFC 132 in Las Vegas, Nev.

Of the right hand that sent “Darth” to the mat, the man who honed former two-division UFC champion B.J. Penn’s hands commented, “We were able to put confidence into stepping in that pocket and let it go a bit better than [Ortiz] has in the past.”

Parillo and Ortiz discussed linking up before the Hamill fight, but it never came to fruition. When Ortiz called to invite him to run the six-week UFC 132 camp, Parillo knew “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” would be well-conditioned, but needed to cultivate a strong mental game to handle the pressure of what UFC president Dana White categorized as a pink-slip fight.

He said to the longest reigning 205-pound champion in UFC history, “The most important thing to me is you stick your head in that fine line is you get knocked the f— out or you knock this guy out—one or the other. I want you to go out this guy and kill or be killed.”

Parillo describes a mutual belief in the gym for unearthing the finisher in Ortiz, who hadn’t stopped anybody not named Ken Shamrock since 2001 despite having only went to decision once in a five-defense title reign.

A former boxer, Parillo had the task of getting a fighter considered past his prime to his peak in time to defeat a once-defeated 5:1 favorite eight years younger than the 36-year-old former UFC light heavyweight champion.

“I watched him look at me in the eyes and internalize everything and believe what I’m telling him because he knew it to be true. There were fundamentals that we polished up and he just started clicking,” said the 37-year-old, noting they spent one-on-one time in the gym for a solid portion of the camp.

“His head hasn’t been in the right place in a long time. He was in a position where he didn’t have a choice but to listen to somebody and he chose to listen to me.”

Parillo became confident in Ortiz leading up to the bout when sparring partners—and there weren’t many—that got the best of the Punishment Athletics founder in the past and saw the tides turn against them. The injuries and personal issues Ortiz has publicly endured throughout his four-year losing streak were put aside with mitt work.

Parillo even credits a message from B.J. Penn to Tito Ortiz to believe in the training and everything else would take care of itself as it did for the career-revitalizing performance.

Where Ortiz goes from here is up to him affirms Parillo.

“A hungry fighter that has much talent as Tito does and as much experience as Tito does, they’re dangerous. He can do what he wants to do if he really wants to do it, and if that’s win a world title, he’ll win a world title,” concluded the Orange County RVCA Sports Center coach.

“If he wants to treat this fight like it was his world title, the future may not be that great. But I have a good feeling Tito’s hungry.”

Follow Danny Acosta on twitter.com/acostaislegend.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 132 Results: Cruz-Faber Cement Their History at UFC 132

LAS VEGAS—Is the lightest champion in the UFC the best? A historic 25-minute headlining clash for the inaugural UFC Bantamweight Championship saw Dominick Cruz’s hand raised opposite Urijah Faber in front of 12,4097 fans for his fourth cons…

LAS VEGAS—Is the lightest champion in the UFC the best?

A historic 25-minute headlining clash for the inaugural UFC Bantamweight Championship saw Dominick Cruz’s hand raised opposite Urijah Faber in front of 12,4097 fans for his fourth consecutive 135-pound title win at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Dominick Cruz didn’t dominate Urijah Faber, but he did prove to be the undisputed kingpin at 135-pounds and just as sharp as any other fighter on the pound-for-pound list. The speed, power, experience and gameness of “The California Kid” was the toughest test of Cruz’s 19-fight career. The bantamweight champion anchored out of Alliance MMA in Chula Vista, Calif. debuted in the UFC to retain his crown for the third time, doing his part to live up to the historical hype of the first sub-155-pound main event in history.

Cruz and Faber left everything in the cage, consequently leaving no doubt the lighter weight classes adopted from the WEC (and eventually the flyweight division) can undoubtedly carry a main event.

At 26-years-old, “The Dominator” arrived in the UFC as he left the WEC—in the middle of an impressive title run. A four-to-one underdog before winning the belt from Brian Bowles last March, Cruz’s 25-minute unanimous decision wins versus Joseph Benavidez, Scott Jorgensen—fights Cruz contested with a busted hand—and Urijah Faber should call attention the defensive precedent he is setting in the sport.

The Arizona native’s slips, footwork and movement makes fighters who are clearly number two in the world appear frustrated at times. An ability to walk forward and trouble opponents with a high volume adds to the woes of his challengers. A three-fight underdog win streak by Demetrious Johnson should be Cruz’s next defense.

Despite dropping his fourth straight title bout, Faber remains a marketable star with a competitive claim at the top of the division. He came up short in his quest to join B.J. Penn, Randy Couture, Dan Henderson and Jake Shields as two-division champions—a part of his legacy he deserves to chase again.

A long-awaited fight versus fellow star Miguel Torres would satisfy fans and should Faber emerge victorious, be credible enough to set up a trilogy with Cruz. Cruz-Faber can be to the lighter weight classes what Chuck Liddell-Randy Couture’s trilogy was for the sport as a whole.

Their excellent Fight of the Night is paramount for the longevity of mixed martial arts. After all, the lower weights that the UFC is unveiling to endear to its fans are the ones that currently carry boxing.

UFC 132 was the best main card in UFC history. Two opposite stories about pioneering MMA legends elevated the magnitude of the night before Cruz and Faber closed it out impressively.  

Has the sandstorm ended for Wanderlei Silva?

When Wanderlei Silva walks out to fight, he enters to a trance theme “Sandstorm,” the soundtrack to a five-year title reign as the PRIDE Middleweight Champion

After Chris Leben decimated his hero with uppercuts en route to a 27-second first round knockout, Silva, 35, may be at the end of his storied career. A kill-or-be-killed fighter, four of his last six losses have come by way of knockout. “The Axe Murderer” earned a reputation in a combat sport for being a violent competitor. The Brazilian must now examine with UFC President Dana White, his family and coaches if he can still compete without sacrificing long-term health.

Leben scored the signature win of his 19-fight UFC career against the former PRIDE Middleweight Champion. His first round TKO loss to Brian Stann shouldn’t keep him from contender fights especially since he preceded it with back-to-back wins in two weeks—a historic feat that saw him finish Aaron Simpson (Knockout of the Night) and Yoshihiro Akiyama (Fight of the Night). A bout with Vitor Belfort should he get past Akiyama on August 6 can be another former champion in the fan favorite’s path to a long-shot title match with Anderson Silva.

Organizations aside, is Tito Ortiz the story of the year?

Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Tito Ortiz shocked the world by submitting Ryan Bader less than two minutes into the first round via guillotine choke. Ortiz, 36, was a five-to-one underdog when scoring his first win since 2006 and his first submission since 2000. Everybody loves an underdog story, and even a polarizing figure like “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” can still capture the imagination of the critics and fans that counted him out. It’s the magic of a charismatic former champion and with the troubles of his personal life plastered on TMZ, a real triumph.

It will be nearly impossible to top Zuffa acquiring Strikeforce as a story of the year in 2011, but organizations come and go—legends last forever.

Follow Danny Acosta on twitter.com/acostaislegend

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 132: Melvin Guillard Wants to Teach Shane Roller About Knockouts

UFC lightweight Melvin Guillard is the fighter to watch, the fighter to beat at 155 pounds the way he tells it.  Since “The Young Assassin” arrived in the UFC as a member of The Ultimate Fighter season two, his brash personality and at…

UFC lightweight Melvin Guillard is the fighter to watch, the fighter to beat at 155 pounds the way he tells it. 

Since “The Young Assassin” arrived in the UFC as a member of The Ultimate Fighter season two, his brash personality and athleticism propelled the Louisiana-native into a select group of MMA fighters that are either loved or hated. Six years later, a matured Guillard touts training at Greg Jackson’s MMA in Albuquerque, New Mexico for his new perspective on himself and the lightweight class.

“I’m an unstoppable force right now and I’m confident to say that about myself. It’s not gonna be easy. No it’s not gonna be easy by far,” said the 28-year-old to Bleacher Report, “but there’s a lot of great 55’ers right now in the UFC and out of the UFC. It’s like I said, it’s anybody’s ballgame. It’s all about who makes a statement and right now I’m ready to make a statement.”

Guillard rides a four-fight win streak—and has taken seven of his last eight—into Saturday night’s bout versus Shane Roller at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada for UFC 132.

Roller, a three-time All-American wrestler from Oklahoma State University, successfully transitioned from the WEC to the UFC with a Knockout of the Night performance against Thiago Tavares in March. The come-from-behind KO didn’t impress Guillard, who insists his knockouts happen while he’s imposing his will—not coming from behind. He asserts late rally knockouts have stolen bonuses from him before too. When the two face off on Spike TV, Guillard plans to show Roller how to score a real Knockout of the Night while fighting off the decorated wrestler with his wrestling and his judo. 

“I know Shane Roller isn’t near as fast as I am,” he said.

The two-time Knockout of the Night winner believes he’s already at the top of the lightweight contender crop. It’s not the same bravado of his youthful days in the UFC, but a declaration from a fighter with a wealth of experience approaching his prime. In Roller, he sees a fight to stay busy and continue building his fan base more than to prove he’s a contender, something he asserts he’s already established.

“The more fights I win, the more money I make of course, and the more opportunity the fans will get to speak for me. I’m definitely a person that fights for the crowd, fights for the fans. When that opportunity is given to me, no one can ever question it and say, ‘Did they give Melvin a title shot or did he earn it?’ It’ll be self-spoken,” said Guillard.

He began fighting professionally as a teenager and while his official record dates his career to 2002, he boasts 15 years of experience. Splitting time at Keith Jardine’s Mean 1 MMA in addition to Jackson’s, Guillard swims to open up his lung capacity, runs the mountains for explosive energy and even adopted teammate UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre’s affinity for gymnastics to “reinvent the wheel” for himself and his training. It’s all the name of preparing Melvin Guillard to seize a crown he views as sized for his own head—something he’s grown into during his UFC tenure.

“If I would have become a champion five years ago, I would have messed my life up. I probably wouldn’t even be talking to you right now,” he said. “I would have been a has-been like numerous guys. There are guys that became champions and you never hear from them again.”

With contenders like Clay Guida and Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in his camp and in his weight class, Guillard reveals a promise between the teammates that the only way they would fight is for the belt, currently held by Frankie Edgar.

“I’m not gonna put my life on hold and one day have a kid and tell my kid, ‘Oh well, your dad would have been a great champion but I opted not to take the fight because I didn’t want to fight my teammate.’ It’s everybody’s dream to be a UFC champion,” said Guillard. “I don’t want nobody to take my dream for me and I wouldn’t want them to not take an opportunity if I was a champion.”

Follow Danny Acosta on twitter.com/acostaislegend

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Blood-Red Chris Leben Ready for Long-Awaited Wanderlei Silva Showdown at UFC 132

Few fighters have a more fan-friendly style than Chris Leben and Wanderlei Silva. The kill-or-be-killed strikers will go toe-to-toe in the center of the Octagon at UFC 132 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. this Saturday night.For Leben, …

Few fighters have a more fan-friendly style than Chris Leben and Wanderlei Silva.

The kill-or-be-killed strikers will go toe-to-toe in the center of the Octagon at UFC 132 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. this Saturday night.

For Leben, reverence for the former PRIDE 205-pound titleholder who reigned over Japan for five years as champion results in a Fight of the Night, Fight of the Year, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“I always wanted to fight Wanderlei Silva. I’ve been kind of jokingly talking about it with friends for years. It’d be great if he came down. I know he fought Rich Franklin at ’95 and da, da, da, maybe I can go up to fight him—whatever,” The Ultimate Fighter alumni told Bleacher Report. “When I stepped in and fought [Yoshihiro] Akiyama for him, I felt that that earned me the shot.”

The dramatic third-round submission win against Akiyama was Leben’s second victory in two weeks—the rarest of accomplishments in the UFC. Silva has been without a belt since 2007, but his legendary stature in the sport causes even the most grizzled veteran like Leben to speak of earning a shot simply to face him as if he still held a belt.

With a fight anyone, anywhere, anytime attitude, Leben admitted, “It’s one of the few fights I’ve really, really wanted. I’m excited about it.”

The flu bit Leben before a New Year’s Day 2011 defeat where Brian Stann became the first fighter to (T)KO him since Anderson Silva five years earlier. Despite the stunning first-round loss, the Hawaii-based fighter is optimistic the setback hasn’t hurt his stride going into a fight with “The Axe Murderer.”

“I think the timing and the way everything is working out is absolutely perfect for me,” he said. “This is the best Chris Leben 100 percent. This is the best I’ve ever been. I can’t wait to show that come Saturday night.” 

Leben credits his family, friends and training partners with helping him stick to his diet more so than any other bout in his career. Never missing a chance to pay respect to his opponent for this contest, Leben extended his gratitude toward the Brazilian for a stellar training camp.

“Also, I got to thank Wanderlei for that because there’s nothing more motivating than the fear of a coma.,” said the nine-year veteran. “The thought of me fighting Wanderlei is really giving me the power to do everything I do for my diet, everything I need to do in the training room.”

“The Crippler” battling “The Axe Murderer” sets lofty expectations for violence. Leben color-coordinated his favorite pre-fight ritual—painting his hair—accordingly.

“I went with the classic blood red, the whole deal because I need as much power as I can get. For me, it changes things,” he said of dyeing his hair. “I look in the mirror, I see my hair is on.  I know that’s my game face. I know its time to go to work.”

Nineteen fights into his UFC career, Leben longs for the defining moments a slugfest brings forth. Win or lose, he can count on Silva to contribute memorable exchanges to a career built on starching opponent’s brain cells.

A title is nice and sure it’s the goal, but fans remember two fighter’s fearlessly throwing down like they do belts. What Leben lacks in gold he guarantees he makes up for in entertainment value.

“I just want to have epic fights where people can go back and say, ‘Your career is like a highlight reel,’” concluded Leben.

Follow Danny Acosta on twitter.com/acostaislegend.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 132 Exclusive: Cruz vs. Faber II History in the Making

After 17 years, the UFC is ready to deliver the first sub-155-pound main event in Octagon history. The headlining honors belong to 135-pounders Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber as the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. hosts UFC 132 this Saturday …

After 17 years, the UFC is ready to deliver the first sub-155-pound main event in Octagon history.

The headlining honors belong to 135-pounders Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber as the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. hosts UFC 132 this Saturday night.

Their last meeting in Sin City occurred in March 2007 when Faber, then the WEC featherweight champion, retained his belt versus Cruz via first-round guillotine choke. Four years later, Cruz has the opportunity to defend his 135-pound crown for the third time in his UFC debut while avenging the lone loss of his 18-fight career (17-1) against “The California Kid” (25-4).

“That’s exactly what I feel I’m doing: I’m staking my claim and showing what I can do and that I deserve to be the king of this weight class,” the UFC bantamweight champion told Bleacher Report.

UFC parent company Zuffa experimented with the marketability of the lower weight classes by showcasing them in the WEC for the last three years. It was successful largely because of Faber, the face of the organization, who headlined the WEC’s lone pay-per-view offering opposite Jose Aldo.

Participating in another landmark bout for the sub-155-pound divisions is the latest in a long line of Faber’s headlining duties that date back to his third ever contest.   

“I feel lucky to have been in this position but it’s also come on the back of a lot of hard work. There hasn’t been all highs in my career,” Faber said to Bleacher Report, “and to stay on course and not get deserted and create opportunities for yourself—that’s what this is about. This is me creating opportunities by winning by staying persistent and consistent and going after what I want.”

The UFC’s inaugural bantamweight title tilt suggests the lower the weight, the higher the stakes. The chemistry for this bout fuels the rematch with heavyweight hype.

At 26 years old, Cruz is riding an impeccable three-fight run that began with capturing the WEC bantamweight belt as a four-to-one underdog and ended with winning the UFC’s first bantamweight title.

The Alliance MMA representative’s first two title defenses saw him fight 10 rounds totaling 50 minutes with a busted left hand, earning decisions versus top-five world ranked opponents Joseph Benavidez and Scott Jorgensen.

Despite all the accolades, the Arizona native has not approached the same star status Faber is known for relishing.

“In order to be considered the best, there’s certain guys you got to beat and a lot of people believe [Faber]’s the guy for me to beat in order to prove that,” said Cruz, aiming for nine consecutive victories. “Okay, I’m ready to do it. I get to get my only loss back. I’m excited to go out there and prove what I can do.”

The merit of Faber’s ledger became stronger with his UFC debut in March when the 32-year-old bested the WEC’s inaugural bantamweight champion Eddie Wineland. It was Faber’s second straight victory and his third in four outings.

His proven star quality rendered him the obvious choice to challenge Cruz for the UFC bantamweight belt first. With a 1-3 record in his last four title fights, Faber must perform like the fighter that successfully defended his belt five times to remain relevant for title tenures more than marketing muscle.

“I was dealing with a lot of adversity in those fights. I pushed through it and tried to win the whole time. I think he’s a lot less dangerous than the other guys I’ve fought for the title the last two times,” said the Sacramento, Calif. based fighter, who plans to further his legacy by joining Randy Couture and B.J. Penn as a two-division titleholder.

“I’m a lot more elusive and have a more even playing field at this weight.”

Victory against Cruz, who is 3-1 in his last four title fights, would restore Faber’s kingpin credibility. Conversely, a win for “The Dominator” would infuse the champion’s in-ring accomplishments with the popularity of a UFC titleholder.

Cruz pulls main event duty for the second time in his career, while Faber enjoys top billing for the 14th time in his career—remarkably one shy of headlining half his career contests.

The champion summed up what is up for grabs at Cruz vs. Faber II perfectly: “I’m here to make history and not be history.”

Follow Danny Acosta on twitter.com/acostaislegend.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Pat Barry Readying the Landmine for UFC on Versus 4

Three of Pat Barry’s six career victories have come by way of technical knockout via leg kicks—a rare finish for fighters. Another “HD” rarity: he’s a former K-1 kickboxer successfully fashioning a mixed martial arts caree…

Three of Pat Barry’s six career victories have come by way of technical knockout via leg kicks—a rare finish for fighters.

Another “HD” rarity: he’s a former K-1 kickboxer successfully fashioning a mixed martial arts career. The stand-up skills the Duke Roufus protégé brings to the Octagon this Sunday night at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburg, Penn. prompt the boisterous heavyweight to confidently claim French striker Cheick Kongo will take him down.

“I can guarantee that anybody that I fight is gonna take the fight to the ground. That’s no mystery or no secret that going to the ground is definitely where you have your best chance of beating me,” said Barry to ESPN’s Inside the Cage Radio. “You’re not going to stand there with Mike Tyson in the UFC and just box with him the whole time.”

The 31-year-old started jiu-jitsu just weeks before jumping into MMA in May 2008. Three years of experience has slowly given the Louisiana-native requisite understanding for this level of MMA on the mat, but it’s been working with the DeathClutch gym in Minnesota that has Barry finally grasping wrestling and jiu-jitsu to bolster his stand-up game.

“Not that its gonna happen–but don’t be too shocked to see me take the fight to the ground,” said the former U.S. Sanshou champion.

Working with NCAA National Champions Brock Lesnar, Cole Konrad and Marty Morgan, Barry has found himself in grappling situations just as rugged as the kickboxing sessions he fell in love with as a college student. Trial by fire is a speedy learning process. 

“It’s either lay there and get smothered by these guys and die—and they’ll just throw you in the dumpster behind the gym—or figure out how to get out from under them and stop them from taking you to the ground,” he said, adding, “[Konrad]’s body molds around yours so there’s nowhere to go.”

The rigors of training at DeathClutch have endowed Barry with a heightened sense of toughness he’s sure Kongo won’t be able to break down.

“They’ll take you over and body slam you on a dumbbell. You’re supposed to be totally fine with that,” said Barry, 3-2 in the Octagon. “You can’t stand up and say, ‘Hey, you threw me on a dumbbell.’ You’re supposed to stand up and say, ‘Good move,’ or something like that. Even when they demo stuff!”

The experience has focused Barry on harnessing his own dangerous traits. Wrestling with Morgan and Konrad has been so frustrating at times, he’s shoved them away and unloaded bare-fisted punches into their abdomens. It’s what Morgan was attempting to bring forth all along: no remorse with any movement in a fight.

Barry boasts all heavyweights who take a leg kick from him will feel like they stepped on a landmine. The realities of mixed martial arts have made landing them more difficult though. Defending takedowns and getting back up caused him to tire, limiting his movement and chances at landing explosive striking. The slew of heavyweight training partners emphasizing grappling has not only solved that problem, but it’s strengthened his kicking ability.

“It’s helped out my entire game. I’ve uncontrollably had no choice but to get stronger. I’m a pretty muscular guy. None of that is real. It’s all fake. It was all filled with helium,” said Barry. “Wrestling with these guys, they’ve actually become functional. I’ve actually gotten strong. I look like I should be for the first time ever.”

How Barry looks Sunday night depends on whether or not he can get the landmine leg kick to detonate against Cheick Kongo. 

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