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Benson Henderson’s Pursuit of Greatness Continues at UFC on Fox 7

As a competitor, Benson Henderson has never shied away from setting his personal levels of expectation at the highest tier. The MMA Lab-trained fighter has continuously demanded the most out of himself, and this unique sense of drive and determination …

For some fighters, claiming the ever-elusive title of UFC champion would be enough to satisfy the fires of ambition. But Henderson is a different breed of competitor, and after defeating Frankie Edgar at UFC 144 last year in Japan, the new lightweight champion marked the next chapter of his career by unleashing a new set of goals to be pursued.

Staying true to form, the 29-year-old set his sights on eclipsing one of the most impressive records in the UFC history books. Middleweight king Anderson Silva has amassed a legacy as the greatest mixed martial artist to ever enter the Octagon, and one of his greatest accomplishments along this journey has been setting the record for title defenses.

“The Spider” has successfully defended the 185-pound strap on 10 consecutive occasions, an accomplishment that becomes all the more remarkable when considering the highly competitive landscape in the current realm of mixed martial arts.

While Henderson may only be slightly north of a year into his reign as UFC champion, his push for greatness remains strong. The UFC lightweight division is by all means a shark tank where the talent is deep and suitable contenders are lined up at the ready to compete for Henderson’s position atop the divisional mountain. These circumstances only serve to provide further motivation for Henderson as he is prepared to handle all comers who oppose his lightweight title.

Chasing Silva’s record may be a mountain of a task, but Henderson is willing to give all he has to accomplish his goal of becoming the most dominant champion in UFC history.

“I’m going to continue to work hard to reach my goals,” Henderson told Bleacher Report. “Anderson is now at 10 title defenses so my goal is to get 11. If he gets another title defense then I’ll have to set my goal even higher. Those are the goals I set and reaching that goal is not just about setting the record. Reaching that goal is about confirming I am the best fighter on the planet. I just want to be the best fighter on the planet. There have been plenty of fighters—who at the time were known as the best fighter on the planet—but they didn’t have a 10-title defense streak and didn’t have all the records.

“I feel at one time BJ Penn was definitely the best fighter on the planet. Did he have a 10-fight win streak? No he didn’t. Did he have an undefeated streak where he won 16 fights in a row? No he didn’t. But at the same time, everyone knew and understood he was the best fighter in the world.

“I feel having that streak is my way of cementing the fact I am the best fighter on the planet. That is ultimately my goal. If it comes by winning a bunch of fights in a row and having an amazing win streak, then cool. I’ll take it. I guess I don’t really have to have that, but it is my ultimate goal. I want to be the best fighter I can be and be the best fighter on the planet.”

With two successful title defenses under his belt, the next challenge on Henderson’s path will come next month when he squares off with the last man to hold the Strikeforce lightweight championship—Gilbert Melendez.

The “clash of champions” will mark Melendez’s long-awaited Octagon debut, and Henderson is looking forward to mixing it up with the Skrap Pack leader in San Jose.

“I think it’s a really good matchup stylistically,” Henderson said. “The more and more I watch film on Gilbert, he does a great job of sticking to his game plan. From what I’ve seen his coaches come up with a great game plan and he does a wonderful job of sticking to that game plan as the fight goes on. That is probably one of the best things he does. His coaches come up with a good game plan and he stick to it throughout the entire fight.

“But stylistically I think it is a great matchup. We think he’s more than likely going to walk forward as he’s done in a lot of his past fights. There have been some fights where he hasn’t done that as much because the game plan was to be a little more elusive. But most of his fights he is pretty aggressive and he walks forward. We think he is going to come forward against us. I’m also going to walk forward and we are going to see who is better that night. I think it’s going to be a great fight for the fans to watch.”

The championship tilt with Melendez will come as the headlining bout at UFC on Fox 7 on April 20 in San Jose. The bout will mark the second consecutive time “Smooth” has been featured in the main event of a Fox card, with his most recent showing coming in a dominant victory over Nate Diaz at UFC on Fox 5 last December in Seattle.

It is an interesting turn of events for the top lightweight fighter in the world where the UFC on Fox cards are concerned.

His first showing at a UFC on Fox event, came in an untelevised scrap against former contender Clay Guida. Henderson and “The Carpenter” put on what many heralded as the night’s best fight, but because the the UFC’s debut on the Fox network was structured to only feature the heavyweight title bout between champion Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos, Henderson’s fight was push to the Facebook portion of the card.

Now as Henderson prepares to headline another UFC on Fox event, he can’t help but feel a sense of validation for the work he has put in to reach premier showcase status.

“It’s a really good feeling,” Henderson said. “Fox is the biggest platform with the most viewers for the UFC. Five-and-a-half million people tuned in to the last Fox card and it’s cool knowing there are going to be that many people watching and knowing that the UFC and Fox picked Gilbert and I to the be the representatives of their brand. It’s nice to know that. It’s great to have that feeling.

“I love being on free TV. I love being on a platform where it’s not the core demographic of fans who are tuning in to watch the fights. It’s not just the 400,000 or 600,000 people who tune in to watch the UFC and are males in the 18-34 demographic. It’s not 500,000 people but 5.5 million who tuned in to watch. That’s awesome. Those are people who aren’t in the usual demographic and that is broadening the range of viewership. I like being able to fight on a bigger stage and a bigger platform and I think that’s awesome.

“The geek in me and the kid inside of me is stoked because the first UFC on Fox card was a big huge deal, with a ton of press and media, just a completely different thing and another animal unto itself,” Henderson added. “It was the UFC on Fox but Clay Guida and I were not on Fox. It was two heavyweights. Then my last fight headlined a Fox card which was awesome, and now for this card, Gil and I are the main event and there are two heavyweights as the co-main event below us.

“The kid in me gets a little geeky about that. I was with Frank Mir a couple of weeks ago in San Francisco and I was giving him all kinds of grief about how heavyweights always get the most love. They are always paid the most money and everybody’s always talking about them because they are big, huge guys who go after it. And I understand that but it’s cool to see us little guys, the little 155-pounders, getting to headline above the heavyweights. I like that.”

As Henderson’s title run continues, his visibility in the sport has increased leaps and bounds. Where he was once a hungry young fighter determined to climb the ladder, he is now in a place where his views and thoughts are rapidly shared throughout the MMA community.

A recent example came during his appearance at a Q & A session for UFC Fight Club members, where the champion was asked to share his personal thoughts on fighters who use performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) and Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT). While Henderson spoke his mind on the matter, the quote he provided quickly hit headlines across the MMA media landscape, making it seem as if the Arizona-based fighter was leading a crusade across the sport.

Henderson feels the articles which followed were misinformed, and he wanted to set the record straight on the matter.

“No, not at all,” Henderson answered when asked if he felt his status as a UFC champion was an important platform to speak out on the issue of PEDs and TRT. “Actually, to be honest, I feel that report was taken a little bit out of context. That question was brought to me on how I feel about the matter. If you want to take PEDs or TRT then by all means go ahead. I personally don’t even care. It’s fine and I’m not really against PEDs.

“That is the way it was worded incorrectly. I’m not against PEDs. I’m not against TRT. If you want to do that and if you choose to do that—by all means go ahead. I’m still going to beat you though. Whether you are on PEDs or TRT, I’m a pretty confident fighter, a confident person and I feel I’m pretty skilled. I’m in my prime and I feel I can beat anybody. If you are on PEDs or not on PEDs; I feel I can beat you. If you are on TRT or not on TRT; I feel I can beat you. It doesn’t really matter.

“I’m not really against PEDs so to speak. I think the way some people took it is that I’m out there preaching against PEDs and TRT. I don’t really care to be honest. It’s whatever. If you want to use those things then go ahead. If not then that is whatever too.”

While other things outside the cage will come and go from the forefront, the fact remains that Henderson’s attempt for greatness inside the Octagon will continue. The champion knows he has a formidable opponent in Melendez waiting for him in San Jose, and he will do everything in his power to make sure the performance he puts on at UFC on Fox 7 shows gained improvements from the last time he stepped into the cage.

At the end of the day, the process of progress is what matters most to Henderson. Despite having the championship belt in his possession, the former WEC-turned-UFC-lightweight titleholder is focused on making sure his skills continue to improve each and every time he steps into action.

For all the talent and confidence he exudes, it is the belief that hard work will make even the loftiest goals achievable. This is perhaps what sets Henderson apart from the rest of the pack. And as he often shares with his fans on Twitter, getting one percent better in the gym every day makes producing amazing results possible.

“By now I know my fans understand and realize I’m not one of those guys who needs extra motivation,” Henderson said. “I don’t need to say, ‘Oh this guy is talking crap about me and he thinks my teeth are jacked up. He doesn’t like my hair. He thinks I’m a paper champion and doesn’t think I really have the belt. Or this guy talked crap about my momma. Or this guy doesn’t like my toe nails.’ I don’t need that extra motivation.

“Every time I step into that Octagon I’m going to give 100 percent and put on a show. That’s just who I am and what I’m going to do. I’m always going to be fully prepared. I’m always going to be 100 percent physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually prepared as I can be. I will step into that Octagon and give 100 percent and all of my heart. I will give it all out there and not hold anything back. All my fans who know that, much love and appreciation goes out to them. Hopefully for the next Fox card, and the seven million people who tune in will see that and recognize that as well.”

Duane Finley is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

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TJ Grant’s Quest for a Title Shot Goes Through Gray Maynard at UFC 160

Over the past three years, the lightweight division has become one of the deepest and most competitive weight classes under the UFC banner. A collection of the world’s best 155-pound fighters have been locked in a heated race to compete for the divisio…

While the names in the upper tier of the divisional hierarchy have remained the same for the most part, one new addition to the list is former welterweight turned lightweight beast TJ Grant.

Since dropping down into lighter waters, the Nova Scotia-based fighter has been on a tear through the division, racking up victories in each of his four showings at 155 pounds. The 29-year-old Canadian’s success has put him within striking distance of a title shot, but Grant understands it is a journey he must take one step at a time.

Nevertheless, he’s feeling better than he ever has inside the Octagon and believes everything is coming together at the perfect time.

“I feel like I’ve made a lot of improvements as a fighter in that time,” Grant told Bleacher Report about dropping down to the lightweight division. “It’s great to be able to go into a fight and believe in your size. At 170 pounds, it was always in the back of my mind that I was undersized. I always felt like I could compete but it was different.

“That weight is kind of lifted off my shoulders now, and I feel like I’m coming into my athletic prime. I’m feeling good, and I’m starting to develop experience in mixed martial arts. I have 25 fights now, but I never had a really in-depth college wrestling background. I never had boxing matches or any of that. The whole thought of competing and being inside the Octagon; I’m really starting to find my groove. Things are starting to slow down a bit in there for me, which is key.”

The next obstacle on his path up the divisional ladder will come against perennial contender Gray Maynard at UFC 160 on May 25 in Las Vegas. While defeating “The Bully” has proved to be no easy task, Grant is looking forward to mixing it up with the AKA-trained fighter next month inside the Octagon.

“There is a lot at stake in this fight,” Grant told Bleacher Report. “I’m looking to make a statement. I’m not really too concerned with what could come after this fight. I’m only concerned with doing my best and putting my all into this one to have a good performance.

“You never know what [Maynard] is going to be thinking. He might come out and try to floor me or try to take me down and grapple with me. I’m not too concerned, I just have to prepare and be ready for everything. I don’t really know what his game plan is going to be. Personally, I think he’ll probably try to take me down, but we’ll see.

“It’s going to be a battle,” Grant added. “I know that he’s hungry and he wants it. I can tell you that I want this fight and it’s huge for me. I’m not going to be afraid or intimidated by Gray Maynard and what he’s accomplished in the past. He’s just going to be another opponent. I’m looking to go out there and put a hurtin‘ on him.”

While Maynard has been considered one of the top lightweights for the better part of three years, it is new territory for the Cole Harbour-based fighter. Grant used an impressive performance against gritty veteran Matt Wiman at UFC on Fox 6 in January to launch himself into the Top 10 rankings in the 155-pound weight class.

With Grant’s and Wiman‘s respective track records, many had assumed the bout would be a tedious and drawn-out affair. But with a tenacious attack and a series of brutal standing elbows, Grant salted the former TUF alum in the final seconds of the opening frame. The victory was Grant’s breakthrough performance, and he feels everything went as planned.

“Wiman is tough, and he’s always going to make it a fight,” Grant said. “I’m not going to shy away from a fight, but I felt the path of least resistance was to use footwork, create angles and not to put 100 percent on every shot. I wanted to just beat him down and look for the openings as they came.

“The second you make it into a dog fight, things change a bit. I’m not going to say I couldn’t hang in that department, I’m just saying that gives Matt Wiman opportunities to scramble and that’s really his strong point. I went my way, and it all worked out for me.”

Immediately following his performance against Wiman in Chicago, Grant found himself in a position to fight the best the weight class had to offer. The first name that came his way was savvy veteran Jim Miller, but due to personal circumstances, Grant was forced to turn the fight down. With the desire to fight another top opponent, Grant was excited when the bout with Maynard became a reality.

“The UFC offered the [Jim] Miller fight a couple of days after the Wiman fight,” Grant said. “I have my firstborn coming next month, and I had to turn the fight. It was just cutting it too close, and I didn’t want to miss the birth of my child for a fight. I felt like that decision might hurt me, but other than Gray Maynard, there is no one who is above me in the rankings without a fight booked. I wasn’t sure if Maynard was really available for a fight, but it all worked out. I’m happy to get the fight.”

Shortly after UFC on Fox 6 in Chicago, the lightweight title picture took an interesting turn. Newly christened No. 1 contender Anthony Pettis decided to vacate the position in order to drop down to featherweight and challenge Brazilian phenom Jose Aldo for his 145-pound crown.

The UFC then tapped Gilbert Melendez, the final man to hold the Strikeforce lightweight strap, to challenge Benson Henderson at UFC on Fox 7 in April. With Pettis gone and Melendez getting an immediate title shot, the normally crowded title picture has opened up, and Grant believes this turn of events has created an interesting opportunity.

“I feel like it’s anybody’s for the taking with what’s been going on lately. [Anthony] Pettis and [Frankie] Edgar dropping down made things wide open. Plus you have Benson Henderson at the top, and he’s a tough cookie. There are a lot of tough guys in the division, but I really feel like the landscape is changing. I’m just looking to go out there and make a big statement in this fight.

“I hoping something like that happens,” Grant responded when asked if a victory over Maynard would get him a title shot. “I also understand this is a business. I just watched Johny Hendricks win a lot of fights consecutively against top-five opponents, but it wasn’t until he beat [Carlos] Condit until he actually secured a title shot. We are going to see what’s happening. I’m thinking about Gray right now, and I’m going out there to put on the best show possible.

“Hopefully I’ll get the win, and after that I’m ready to fight anyone. Put me in there with Benson or whoever is going to get me that title shot. My ultimate goal is to win the title, and I’ll do whatever I have to do to get there.”

Much like the previously mentioned Hendricks—who only started calling out Georges St-Pierre when the title shot he sought continued to elude him—Grant has chosen to avoid trash-talking for the sake of self-promotion. He doesn’t believe chattering in interviews or public posturing is necessary to accomplish his goals.

At the same time, Grant also understands his unwillingness to kick up dust will most likely force him to take a longer route to the championship. While this will create more work for Grant inside the cage, if he can continue to fight his way into the win column, Grant believes it will be impossible for the UFC to deny him a title opportunity.

“I don’t think you have to be out there calling out guys,” Grant said. “I’m a real person and that’s just not my way. If that’s who you are and that suits your character, then go ahead and do it. If that’s the case then I don’t really care.

“A lot of people talk about the way Nick Diaz carries himself, but he’s a real dude. He walked into Montreal and fought the champ. He did it his way, and you can’t really question the fact that he’s real and he is who he is. He’s not putting on a show for anybody. If people do that then I respect it.

“I’m a real person and I’m not going to sell myself or how I do things. I let my work speak for itself, and I’m going to keep going out there and putting on good fights. I feel like I have an exciting style. I’m not the most flashy guy in the world, but I’m a hard-nosed fighter who likes to mix it up. I don’t shy away from any aspect of the fight. I believe that’s enough.

“It’s definitely a longer road, but it’s the road I choose to take. I’m not going to talk my way into any fights, and you can’t deny me if I keep winning.”

Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

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Jake Ellenberger: “I Want to Wear Johny Hendricks’s Teeth as a Necklace”

With UFC 158 being one of the most highly anticipated cards of the year, Jake Ellenberger knew he had the perfect opportunity to make a grand statement.The 27-year-old had been battling his way up the divisional ladder for two years, attempting to soli…

With UFC 158 being one of the most highly anticipated cards of the year, Jake Ellenberger knew he had the perfect opportunity to make a grand statement.

The 27-year-old had been battling his way up the divisional ladder for two years, attempting to solidify himself as a legitimate threat to the welterweight crown, and when he stepped into the Octagon this past Saturday night in Montreal, Ellenberger was determined to put a definitive stamp on the matter.

The Juggernaut’s declaration would come at the expense of former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nate Marquardt, and it was a point made in brutal fashion. After dropping Marquardt with a big left hand, Ellenberger unleashed a flurry of rapid-fire shots to his defenseless opponent, bringing an end to the bout.

An impressive knockout victory over the former No. 1 contender to the middleweight crown proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that Ellenberger belongs in the title conversation in the 170-pound weight class. In addition to carving out his place in the divisional hierarchy, the Team Reign fighter also showed the ability to step up when the pressure is on.

The next wave of 170-pound talent is pushing to break through, and Ellenberger‘s domination of Marquardt on the sport’s biggest stage sent a strong message to every fighter in the welterweight division.

Make no mistake about it, the former Marine is flat-out fired up. He believes the time has come for him to make a run at the welterweight title, and that campaign was kicked-off in proper fashion in Montreal.

“I accomplished exactly what I wanted to do with this fight,” Ellenberger told Bleacher Report in an exclusive interview. “It happened a bit quicker than I had anticipated, but I wanted to make a statement and I believe I was successful in doing so.”

While the battle between the two powerful welterweights figured to be an action-packed affair, once the opening bell sounded it was all Ellenberger. The California-based fighter pushed the pace, as he backed Marquardt up with powerful shots.

It didn’t take long for Ellenberger‘s handiwork to show through, as Marquardt‘s face became swollen and bloody shortly into the fight. It was clear Nate the Great was struggling to handle Ellenberger‘s power, but where the surging contender has become over-aggressive in past bouts, he was able to keep his composure in this tilt and finished the fight with a flurry three minutes into the opening frame.

Fighting with urgency front and center and keeping his killer instinct under control are aspects of Ellenberger‘s game into which he’s put a lot of work, and that work paid off at UFC 158.

“Fights are so unpredictable, and you really have to stay on your opponent and control that rhythm,” Ellenberger said. “It’s hard when to find that rhythm when you let somebody else control the range. It’s tough to really know how hurt your opponent is, because you are in the moment and you just have to keep moving forward.

“It’s really difficult to tell how hurt your opponent is during the fight. I’ve been working a lot with my boxing coach, improving my skills and getting faster. That was really what I was focusing on, and not so much the damage I was causing. You can’t really afford to guess when you are in the fight. I’ve had other situations, like against Martin Kampmann, where he was bleeding from his nose, eye, and mouth. There was blood gushing from his face, and you start thinking the fight is pretty much over and all you need to do is connect with one solid punch to finish things.

“Unfortunately that didn’t work out, but that is how it is in this sport. MMA is the hardest sport to remain consistent in. I won six in a row and then ran into some adversity against Kampmann. I had to work my way back to where I am now, but when you look at it, I’ve won eight of my last nine. I’ve put a lot of focus on staying consistent, but at the same time fighting intelligently.”

In the aftermath of the welterweight showcase in Montreal, Ellenberger walked away with a “Knockout of the Night” bonus and a certified spot in the divisional-title picture. That being said, an opportunity to compete for UFC gold will most likely not come in immediate fashion.

At the post-fight press conference in Montreal, UFC President Dana White told the media Johny Hendricks versus Georges St-Pierre would be the next title fight in the welterweight division.

This scenario leaves Ellenberger as a contender-in-waiting. With GSP and Bigg Rigg mixing it up later this year, the time frame leaves Ellenberger as the odd man out.

There are a handful of potential opponents such as Demian Maia and Rory MacDonald who could step up and face the heavy-handed welterweight. And as long as the next opponent who steps in comes with a guaranteed title shot, Ellenberger doesn’t care who they put across from him.

“It’s hard to say exactly where I stand in the division, but I would suspect I’m right behind Johny,” Ellenberger said. “Some people are saying I’m third or fourth, but what matters to me is fighting the best competition. I will fight whoever I have to in order to get to that title. I was scheduled to fight Josh Koscheck, but he got hurt and I fought Jay Hieron. I was supposed to fight Johny Hendricks, and then he got out of the fight and I ended up against Nate Marquardt.

“It doesn’t matter what happens, I’m always facing top guys and I have to perform. I still have to beat them and I’ll fight whoever I have to in order to become the No. 1 contender.

“If the UFC came to me and said you are going to fight “fill in the blank” person to become the No. 1 contender, it wouldn’t matter who they put across from me. Let’s do it. I’m not wasting my time anymore. I don’t want to be in this sport for another five years. I want to win the title and move on.”

In Ellenberger‘s eyes, becoming the UFC champion is the ultimate goal to be achieved, and he will fight whoever it takes in order to make this a reality. Nevertheless, there is one fighter in particular who the Lake Forrest-based fighter has been aiming at for sometime now: Johny Hendricks.

Their paths were originally scheduled to cross this past weekend at UFC 158, but circumstance and opportunity led to Hendricks stepping in to face Condit. While a collision between two of the division’s heaviest hitters has been avoided for the time being, Ellenberger believes a bout with Hendricks is an inevitability—and it is going to be nothing short of explosive.

“I was really hoping for the Hendricks fight,” Ellenberger said. “Nobody wants to fight Johny Hendricks, but I do. I’ve been pretty vocal about it, but I can’t control certain things that happen in terms of who I face. But now he’s fighting for the title, and I’m just waiting to see how things play out.

“Like I’ve said in the past, I really believe he’s had the perfect storm to get to a title shot. He won some fights where I don’t think he really should have. I thought Mike Pierce won the fight he had against Hendricks, and when Johny fought Koscheck it was extremely close.

“He’s had a couple of quick knockouts, but I believe I have what it takes to beat him. I know his style and I think I have the answer for it. He’s not real technical, but he’s tough and he’s done well. But I don’t think it’s enough to get him a world title. Some things are out of my control, but I’ve been saying his name for the past year. The fight was supposed to happen, obviously it didn’t, but I know we are going to cross paths sooner or later.

“We are going to cross paths at some point,” Ellenberger added. “I’m sure of it. Whether it comes this year, next year, or the year after; Johny Hendricks and I are going to fight. It’s a stance I’ve taken and I’m not going to back off of that.

“Like I said, nobody wants to fight him because he’s a wrestler and he has power. I think I have him figured out, and I’ve been saying his name for the past year and trying to get inside the cage with him. I had the fight, but then he found a way out. I want to fight him so bad and I believe I can beat him.

“I want to wear Johny Hendricks’s teeth as a necklace.”

Duane Finley is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

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Simpson Looking to Start Next Chapter by Defeating Burkman at WSOF 2

In the fast-paced, dog-eat-dog world of mixed martial arts, hardship—and the ability to overcome—are common factors every fighter experiences. Whether this adversity occurs while enduring the rigors of training or from challenges the opposition brings when the cage door closes, once a fighter begins to veer off course it can be a difficult task getting things back to square.

Resurgences are few and far between in the fight game, but Aaron Simpson is determined to get his career back on track. “A Train” has spent most of his life competing on wrestling mats around the world, and if there is one thing “the grind” has taught him, it is how to get back to his feet when the pressure is on.

Despite getting off to a fast start during which Simpson claimed victory in his first eight showings, the following eight outings came with mixed results. The Power MMA co-owner went 4-4 over that run, coming up short in two of his final three bouts under the UFC banner.

Following his loss to Mike Pierce at UFC on FX 5, the former Arizona State University wrestling standout and the sport’s biggest promotion parted ways. Simpson signed with the World Series of Fighting shortly after.

The 38-year-old Arizona-native is looking to gain traction with the Ray Sefo-led organization, and Simpson will have his first opportunity to do so when he faces fellow veteran Josh Burkman this Saturday night at WSOF 2 in Atlantic City.

“I’m excited about fighting for the World Series,” Simpson told Bleacher Report. “They are doing the right things to advance their company and their brand. The organization is in their infant stages but I think it’s going to be a cool thing. I’m just excited to go see what it’s all about. More than anything though, I want to perform for them and do my part to help grow this company.

“In this fight with Josh I have to be ready for everything. He’s pretty aggressive on his feet and goes hard for takedowns. He has solid control when he gets on top and is overall a really well-rounded fighter. I’m expecting a little bit of everything from him and I have to be ready for whatever comes my way.

“It’s a good test for me,” Simpson added. “This is my first fight back since losing to Mike Pierce and I’m motivated to get after him. I’m bringing a highly motivated, action-packed fight and I believe Josh will as well. I think fans can expect a great fight where a lot of different action happens all over the cage.”

Over the past decade, it has become common practice for fighters who exit the UFC fold to immediate hit the smaller promotions on the regional circuit, looking to score a quick win or two. Fighters do this in the hopes of earning an invitation back to the sport’s biggest stage, but Simpson didn’t believe this was the best route to travel.

Knowing his former promotion is heavy on the roster side of things, Simpson decided against the regional route and chose to pursue an endeavor that would allow him not only room to grow, but the opportunity to work consistently. He believes the WSOF fit those needs perfectly and is looking to do his part to push the organization forward.

“The door to the UFC just isn’t open at this point,” Simpson said. “I could have gone and fought at a small show, had one fight and asked Joe Silva to let me back in, but the UFC has so many fighters on their roster, and they have to try to keep all of them active. With that situation, getting back in right away might not have happened. I’m not 25 years old where I can sit around and wait or do other things to make a living. I have a family to feed and sitting around wasn’t an option.

“I signed a four-fight deal with the World Series, and at this point I’m on board looking to help them because they are helping me. It is a mutual benefit for both of us. They appear to have a bright future and hopefully they continue to make the right moves.

“I think other MMA organizations in the past have gotten ahead of themselves and that is why they failed. Promotions have to spend money to make money and do the right things to promote correctly. World Series appears to be willing to do that so we’ll see. Signing a deal with NBC Sports Channel was a big move for them. It is a three-year deal and a solid commitment on NBC’s part. That has to give them a little confidence in what they are doing at WSOF.”

As a lifelong athlete, Simpson understands the importance of continued progression. He’s been competing in mixed martial arts for over a decade, and while his wrestling pedigree has provided the foundation for his success, Simpson knows developing the other aspects of his skill set is a key factor to his future in the sport.

While the process of improvement in mixed martial arts comes from grueling hours spent inside the gym, the education is what motivates Simpson, and he pushes himself to reach a standard which goes beyond the measure of wins and losses.

“Winning is ultimately the number one goal because if you lose your paycheck is cut in half,” Simpson said. “But in addition to winning, it’s about me going out there and doing my absolute best. I think that is always important. I want to be a good role model for my kids and be an example for others because they know I get out there and go hard.

“There is more to this sport than just fighting, and being a role model is important to me. But winning is the ultimate goal and I work hard to put on an exciting fight and to get my hand raised at the end.

“There is always room for progression and developing new skills in your training,” he added. “Learning is the exciting part of this sport for me. In a sport like basketball, you reach a certain point where there is nothing new you can learn because there are only so many ways to shoot the ball. In MMA, there are so many techniques, attacks, and ways to end a fight—it has always been intriguing for me.”

This Saturday night, Simpson will be looking to kick off the next chapter of his career by defeating Burkman. It will be the first challenge he faces under the WSOF banner, but with a multi-fight deal in place, there will be plenty more to come. While the organization’s welterweight roster is still filling out, a recent high-profile signing could provide an interesting matchup down the line.

WSOF made the MMA media headlines when they picked up former top-ranked UFC welterweight contender Jon Fitch. The AKA staple and Simpson were scheduled to cross paths last July until Fitch suffered an injury which forced him to withdraw from the fight.

Simpson’s focus is locked on his bout with Burkman this weekend, but a potential clash with Fitch is certainly on his radar. While a potential scrap with the former Purdue University wrestling standout is something he is excited about, Simpson believes the WSOF signing top-level talent is a clear indicator they are serious about becoming a major player in the fight game.

“I’m excited that Jon has signed with the World Series,” Simpson said. “That shows the organization is moving forward because Jon is one of the best in the world. He’s earned it and definitely shouldn’t have been cut from the UFC in my opinion. I think that’s a travesty more than anything. He’s a hard-nosed fighter and that was a bout I trained very hard for but it fell through. I respect the guy and I think we would put on a good show for people.”

Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

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Brad Tavares: ‘I Want to Fight Wanderlei Silva’

For a young fighter competing on the biggest stage in mixed martial arts, momentum can be a difficult thing to build.Progression under fire presents unique challenges, and the learning curve typically involves several setbacks as a fighter attempts to …

For a young fighter competing on the biggest stage in mixed martial arts, momentum can be a difficult thing to build.

Progression under fire presents unique challenges, and the learning curve typically involves several setbacks as a fighter attempts to settle into their career.

On the other hand, there are some young talents who find their rhythm in the early stages, and Brad Tavares certainly fits this description.

Since making his UFC debut in 2011, the Hawaiian-born fighter has become one of the most highly touted prospects in the middleweight division. The 25-year-old has been on a steady climb up the divisional ladder, winning five of his first six outings and showing steady progression in the process.

While Tavares‘ success has garnered praise, the buzz surrounding the Ray Sefo-trained fighter has amplified in recent months as he’s collected three consecutive victories over quality opposition. In his most recent showing, Tavares defeated veteran Riki Fukuda at UFC on Fuel TV 8 by neutralizing the AKA-trained fighter’s wrestling and imposing his will throughout the three-round affair.

When the final bell sounded, the Xtreme Couture product earned the unanimous-decision victory and added the Japanese grappler’s name to his growing resume.

Defeating Fukuda may not have pushed Tavares into the top-10 rankings of the 185-pound weight class, but he has the perfect opponent in mind to ensure this becomes reality. Tavares knows the best fighters in the division are waiting just around the corner, and he wants to make sure the next step of his career is the biggest one yet.

“I want to fight Wanderlei Silva,” Tavares told Bleacher Report in an exclusive interview. “I think the fight with Wanderlei makes a lot of sense and it would be awesome stylistically. I’ve been coming up the ranks and getting to fight someone I’ve looked up to for so long would be an awesome opportunity. It is the fight I really want and I hope I get my wish. It would be a dream come true to fight that guy.

“There is a lot that goes in to me wanting that fight. A lot people might not know this aside from my coaches and close friends, but Wanderlei has been my favorite fighter since I was a kid. There are a lot of fighters who have come along since I enjoy watching, but Wanderlei has always been my favorite. When I was growing up he was dominating over in Japan and I wanted to be just like him. I idolized the man. I wanted to fight viciously like him and the persona he carried blew me away back then.”

While Tavares is typically reserved and stays away from the increasing trend of calling other fighters out, the opportunity to face Silva is one he can’t help but go after. The chance to face a fighter he idolized as a youth would be a dream come true, and Tavares wants to do everything in his power to make the bout happen.

At the same time, he’s not alone in the quest to land a fight with Silva, as British slugger Tom Watson recently called out “The Axe Murderer” as well (h/t vendettafighter.com).

But where Tavares‘ intentions come from a place of respect and admiration, “Kong” used a much different approach in calling out the legend. Watson took to his Twitter to challenge Silva, telling him to either “stay on his supplements at 205 [pounds] or come to 185 and get knocked the f*** out.”

Tavares believes every fighter is going to take a different approach to get what they want, but feels where a bout with Silva is concerned, he’s far more deserving than Watson.

“Tom Watson went ahead and called out Wanderlei too but I really wasn’t a fan of the way he did it,” Tavares said. “Everybody is going to go about things in their own way and Watson kind of took that Chael Sonnen approach to try and get that fight. I think Watson can compete with Wanderlei but I don’t think with where he is at that he deserves that fight. I feel I’m way more deserving and I asked for the winner of the Stann versus Silva fight leading up to Japan. I did it hoping I would get a great opportunity.

“Wanderlei responded to the Watson call out and said as long as a fight made sense he would take it. He said it didn’t matter how big or little the name was; the fight just had to make sense. That’s where I feel me asking for Wanderlei fits that category.

“It would be a matchup where an MMA legend is a facing an up-and-comer trying to breakthrough. He lives in Vegas. I train in Vegas, and there is an event this summer at UFC 162 with a lot of middleweights already on the card. Let’s make the fight with Wanderlei Silva happen and add another great middleweight fight to that event.

“I have nothing but respect for Wanderlei,” Tavares added. “I could never go out there and talk trash about him the way Watson did. Like I said, everybody has their own approach to how they try to get fights, but that’s just not me. I typically wouldn’t ask for a specific opponent but Wanderlei is an exception. I want to fight that guy and I say that with the utmost respect. It would be an honor to face Wanderlei Silva.”

As the bout with Silva remains an uncertainty at this time, Tavares has undoubtedly earned the right to face a high-profile opponent. Where a matchup with one of the fighters currently residing in the upper tier of the division would be highly unlikely, Tavares could certainly find himself squaring off with an opponent on the outer edges of the top 10 in the 185-pound weight class.

This scenario would appear to be the most likely outcome, but a major issue arises as the majority of the top middleweights on the UFC roster are all scheduled to fight in the coming months. As disappointing as that may be, Tavares feels these factors only serve to strengthen his case to make a bout with Silva a reality.

“I’ll fight anyone of those top 10 guys but everyone is already booked up,” Tavares said. “If I can’t get one of those top guys, why not let me fight Wanderlei? I don’t know if he’s currently ranked in the top 10 but he’s dangerous to anyone he fights, and I would love to test myself against him. He always comes to fight his heart out and I love competing against guys like that.

“When I fought Watson I got excited because he is the type of guy who is going to bring the fight. He wants it to be a brawl and I get excited to face guys who want to stand up with me.

“Going into the fight with Riki [Fukuda], it was in the back of my mind that he might want to try to take it to the ground and stall things out. With guys getting cut, you never know how that is going to affect the way they approach a fight, because they are either going to be looking to get the win any way they can or they are coming out to put on a show. Fortunately, Riki was looking to put on a show and it ended up being a great fight.

“With Wanderlei, there is not one bit of worry in my mind he would show up to bring the fight. He would be coming in there looking to take my head off and I would be looking to do the same to him. It would be an awesome fight and I really hope it happens.

“If all the stars aligned perfectly it would be me standing across the cage from Wanderlei Silva on July 6 in Las Vegas at UFC 162,” Tavares added. “I’ve been fighting on under cards and Facebook prelims and I believe I’m ready for a really big fight. I hope the UFC gives me the opportunity to take a big step in my career and fighting against Wanderlei Silva would certainly be the chance to accomplish that.”

Duane Finley is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained first-hand unless noted otherwise.

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UFC 158: Marquardt and Story’s Careers Turned with the Fight That Never Happened

When the action kicks off at the Bell Centre in Montreal for UFC 158, a collection of the UFC welterweights will be looking to carve out their places in the division. The circumstances cover the entire spectrum as some are competing for championship gold–or the chance to position themselves for a future opportunity to do so—while others are fighting to keep their spots on the roster. The event is arguably the most high-profile card of the year, and the fighters involved are all facing a unique amount of pressure.

While the focus leading into Saturday night’s event has been locked on the championship grudge match between Georges St-Pierre and Nick Diaz, there is another interesting story line involving two other fighters on the card. Strangely enough, the competitors in question are not facing off with one another and will have no immediate impact on their respective futures, but the career paths of Nate Marquardt and Rick Story will forever be linked because of a fight which never took place nearly two years ago.

Often times, fighters’ careers are dictated by how they perform inside the cage, but in the unique case of these two athletes, it was what didn’t happen that had the greatest effect.

Where Nate Marquardt will square off with Jake Ellenberger on the pay-per-view portion of the card to determine who moves closer to a title shot, it is a starkly different situation for Story.

The Brave Legion fighter will lock up with Strikeforce alum Quinn Mulhern on the Facebook preliminaries, and having lost three of his last four bouts, it is highly likely the 28-year-old is battling to retain his spot on the UFC roster.

When taking a look at Story’s current position in the welterweight fold, it is difficult to argue that the things which have come to pass are not connected to a fateful turn of events in June of 2011 in Pittsburgh, PA.

A Series of Unfortunate Events in the “Steel City”

After stumbling in his Octagon debut against John Hathaway, Rick Story dug in his heels and made a serious run for title contention. The Vancouver, Wash-native put together an impressive six-fight win streak, where he claimed victory over names like Brian Foster, Johny Hendricks and Thiago Alves.

With each step up the ladder, Story appeared to be coming into his own. After defeating “The Pitbull” at UFC 130, Story not only broke into the upper tier of the division, but found himself being mentioned in the conversation of potential title contenders.

The buzz surrounding Story was thriving, and he was looking to keep the momentum rolling strong. When Anthony Johnson was forced to pull out of his bout with Nate Marquardt at UFC on Versus 4, Story jumped at the opportunity to face another marquee name inside the Octagon. With less than a month to prepare for the throwdown, Story and his team signed on the dotted line and set their sights on facing Marquardt in Pittsburgh.

The bout was set to mark the first headlining spot in Story’s UFC career and presented tremendous opportunity for the surging contender.

But less than an hour before the fighters took the scale for the weigh-ins, Marquardt was pulled from the card due to his failure to receive medical clearance. The former Pancrase champion failed a pre-fight physical which resulted in his removal from the card entirely.

This turn of events put Story in an unenviable situation. He had taken the fight in the hopes that a victory over the former No. 1 middleweight contender would launch him further up the ladder towards a title shot, but with Marquardt out, and the UFC reeling because of losing a highly anticipated bout, Story agreed to face a relatively unknown opponent in Charlie Brenneman.

In facing “The Spaniard”, every ounce of upside Story was looking for in Pittsburgh went out the window and the circumstances rapidly changed into a high risk/low reward scenario. A potential victory over Marquardt would have been the biggest of Story’s young career, where defeating an opponent with minimal name recognition like Brenneman, would only serve to notch another “W” in the win column. The bout was moved into the co-main event slot, and now Story was on the opposite side of the opportunity coin.

As it would turn out, the win was more elusive than expected. Brenneman wrestled his way to a unanimous decision victory, pulling off one of the biggest upsets of the year. In the aftermath of the loss, Story was despondent and obviously shaken by what had just taken place, because what was set to be a career highlight for the Washington-based fighter turned into an unfortunate series of events.

The win streak was gone. The momentum he had generated was erased. And in the aftermath of his loss to Brenneman, it was uncertain how much this turn of events would affect the road ahead.

Determined to bounce back and reclaim his standing in the division, Story took a fight with Martin Kampmann four months later at UFC 139. “The Hitman” was coming off back-to-back, razor-thin decision losses, and much like Story, the Danish striker was looking to regain his footing in the competitive weight class.

Coming into the bout with the Xtreme Couture product, Story was looking to prove his loss to Brenneman was a fluke and get back to his winning ways. Nevertheless those intentions were soured when he struggled to get into a rhythm against Kampmann and found himself on the business end of a unanimous decision defeat.

For the first time in his career, Story was sitting on back-to-back losses. Where he was once bulldozing his way up the divisional ladder, he now found himself in the midst of an ugly backslide and desperately needed a victory.

Fortunately for Story, that opportunity would come when he faced newcomer Brock Jardine at UFC on FX 4 in Atlantic City. Over the course of the three round fight, Story kept a measured pace and used his wrestling to control Jardine on the canvas. It wasn’t a pretty win by any measure but absolutely necessary where Story was concerned.

The victory over Jardine came four days shy of the year mark since the fallout in Pittsburgh. And while Jardine didn’t carry a big name, the much needed win helped to put some wind back in Story’s sails and helped to close a difficult chapter in his career. But for as much relief as his victory in Atlantic City provided, a first round submission loss to Demian Maia in his next outing at UFC 153, once again put Story on the boundaries of relevancy in the welterweight division.

Having lost three of his last four outings, Story’s bout with Mulhern at UFC 158 is a crucial moment in his career. It wasn’t all too long ago when he appeared to be the “next big thing” in the 170-pound weight class, but if Story should come up short against Mulhern, there is a good chance his next fight could very well come outside of the UFC entirely.

The Quest for Redemption Continues for Marquardt

For years the 33-year-old Colorado-based fighter was considered to be one of the top middleweight fighters in the UFC. But after losses to Chael Sonnen and Yushin Okami pushed him out of title contention, Marquardt decided to test his skills in the welterweight division.

His 170-pound debut was set to come at UFC on Versus 4, but following his failure to receive medical clearance for the bout with Story, Marquardt was pulled from the card. Adding insult to injury, UFC President Dana White released video via his personal Twitter account that Marquardt had also been released from the promotion as well.

Marquardt‘s situation become top news across the MMA landscape as the exact cause of him being pulled from the card and termination from the UFC was yet to be made clear. Marquardt sat down with Ariel Helwani during the MMA Hour and explained the series of events that created the problem in Pittsburgh.

A remorseful Marquardt explained in detail how his doctor had placed him on hormone replacement therapy to combat low levels of testosterone. He applied for a therapeutic usage exemption for testosterone-replacement-therapy going into his bout with Dan Miller at UFC 128 in March of 2011.

While the request was granted, the New Jersey State Athletic Commission’s decision ordered Marquardt to go off the therapy for 10 weeks then be retested to see if the therapy treatment was something he actually needed. It was ultimately determined by the commission-approved specialist that Marquardt‘s condition met the standards of someone needing testosterone-replacement-therapy.

But where the former No. 1 middleweight contender ran into trouble came when his primary physician attempted to get his testosterone levels back up following the 10 week break. His bout with Story was rapidly approaching, and when Marquardt was retested in Pennsylvania, his levels were above the allowed limit. Despite his levels on the downtrend, the commission could not allow Marquardt to compete. The only bright spot in this turbulent affair came when Marquardt tested once again on the day of the event, and since his levels had dropped to within the proper range, the original suspension issued was lifted.

Following Marquardt‘s release from the UFC, he signed on to compete in the British promotion BAMMA. He was slated to face Yoshiyuki Yoshida, but the bout never materialized, and Marquardt was granted a release from his contract with the promotion.

In the months that followed his exit from BAMMA, it was announced that Marquardt had signed with Strikeforce. After a year on the sidelines, Marquardt finally made his welterweight debut when he squared off with previously unbeaten Tyron Woodley for the vacant Strikeforce 170-pound title. His return would be a triumphant one as Marquardt scored a brutal fourth round knockout over the former University of Missouri wrestling standout.

His performance against Woodley generated instant buzz, and in addition to a championship belt, Marquardt‘s name was being thrown around as one of the top welterweights in the sport. Unfortunately, a lackluster showing in his next outing against Tarec Saffiedine would serve to quiet that talk for the most part, but Marquardt‘s proven abilities ensured he wouldn’t be written off entirely.

Once the doors to the Strikeforce promotion were closed for good, Marquardt joined his fellow fighters from the San Jose-based organization and made his way back to the UFC. Prior to his bout with Saffiedine, Marquardt was figured to step immediately into the upper tier of the UFC welterweight division.

After his loss to Saffiedine at Strikeforce’s final show, that scenario seemed unlikely. But after Rory MacDonald fell out of his bout with an injury and Johny Hendricks stepped up to fill his position opposite Carlos Condit, Jake Ellenberger was left without an opponent. Marquardt saw this as the perfect opportunity to make a strong return to the UFC fold and set about campaigning for the fight.

His wish was granted, and in less than 24 hours, the fight between Ellenberger and Marquardt was made official. Now Marquardt has the opportunity to officially set about the course he intended to begin nearly two years ago. After the pain of being released and the year he spent floating in career uncertainty, the table is set for Marquardt to claim redemption and prove he belongs with the top welterweights in the UFC.

Whether Story and Marquardt‘s paths will ever cross inside the Octagon remains to be seen. Where they were once set to face off to determine who would become a legitimate welterweight contender, now their careers are in much different places.

One is fighting to prove he is an elite 170-pound fighter in a crowded title picture, while the other is fighting to keep his job with the promotion. It is a drastic turn from where things stood just a short time ago, but this is the fight business, and the tide can be a difficult thing to overcome.

Both men will step into the Octagon Saturday night in Montreal, and regardless of where their respective careers go in the future, the situation in Pittsburgh will always be a part of their pasts.

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