Author: Dwight Wakabayashi

UFC 131 Fight Card: Will We Finally See Junior Dos Santos’ Ground Game?

It is no secret heavyweight contender Junior Dos Santos packs a devastatingly powerful punch. He has risen rapidly in the UFC, and on his current streak, he has battered the likes of Fabricio Werdum, Stefan Struve, Gilbert Yvel and Gabri…

It is no secret heavyweight contender Junior Dos Santos packs a devastatingly powerful punch. He has risen rapidly in the UFC, and on his current streak, he has battered the likes of Fabricio Werdum, Stefan Struve, Gilbert Yvel and Gabriel Gonzaga.

Dos Santos learns and trains his MMA striking under the tutelage of such established notables as Rodrigo Nogueira, Rogerio Nogueira and Anderson Silva, whose credentials on the feet are well-established.

Dos Santos is the main attraction in his fight with Shane Carwin at UFC 131 in Vancouver. When the original card was made, I was extremely interested in seeing the headline fight. Brock Lesnar would have tested all aspects of Cigano’s game. With him out and Carwin in though, the question remains, will we finally see Junior Dos Santos’ ground game?

I doubt it, and I hope not.

I want to see Dos Santos and Carwin throw, and may the best chin win.

Lesnar would have tried to take Cigano down, and I believe he would have been successful. We would have also seen Junior have to fight off his back for the first time in a big fight—very intriguing. 

I highly doubt Carwin will attempt any takedowns right out of the shoot on June 11, but if he starts to get the worst of the stand-up with Junior, he will go to his roots to try to muscle and bully Dos Santos for his blueprint to victory.

I don’t believe it will get there. I think the gauntlet has been set with JDS predicting a knockout, and Carwin will be all too happy to oblige in letting him try.

Just like with his striking, Dos Santos trains his ground game with the Nogueira’s and “The Spider,” but we may have to wait again to get a glimpse of his black belt skill. 

 

Dwight Wakabayashi is a Correspondent for Bleacher Report MMA (Also a Correspondent for  MMACanada.net).

Catch him on Twitter @wakafighter

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 130 Fight Card: What This Fight Means to Rick "The Horror" Story

Rick “The Horror” Story believes that this is his time and that he is ready for a breakthrough in his career. He is riding a five-fight win streak that includes Dustin Hazelett and Matt Hendricks as victims and not only is he lucky enough to be facing …

Rick “The Horror” Story believes that this is his time and that he is ready for a breakthrough in his career.

He is riding a five-fight win streak that includes Dustin Hazelett and Matt Hendricks as victims and not only is he lucky enough to be facing Thiago Alves next, he specifically asked for him in his quest to make the next step up in the minds of MMA fans everywhere.

Story comes from very humble beginnings, and a win for him could catapult him to places in his life that he never dreamed he could get. Alves is top of the food chain at welterweight, he has had a slight blip in his career recently but he has bounced back nicely and should be considered a step up for Story.

In my opinion, Story could have taken one or two more fights against gap guys, but it may be an indication that the UFC feels Alves has fallen into that gap. Either way, this is a big step up for Story and a victory means a very bright future for “The Horror”, albeit a future with very tough fights.

Story doesn’t mix words when he thinks of what’s going to happen in the fight.

“I’m gonna beat Alves’ ass. I’m here to destroy him” he told ufc.com in a recent interview. 

“I push forward. I always push forward. He’s gonna have to handle that, he’s gonna have to deal with that. If he’s not mentally strong enough, he’s gonna crumble again.”

Heavy words from a 25-year-old fighter with Johnny Hendricks as his biggest win. Alves may have wilted in a fight before but it was against the champion Georges St-Pierre, and Story has a bit to go until he can claim to be a will breaker.

He almost got knocked out by Brian Foster and we will see how he pushes forward after taking a couple of Alves’ punches and brutal leg kicks.

I believe it is a bit of a case of a youngster being a bit naive, but if he proves me wrong it will mean a happy ending for Rick Story.

 

Dwight Wakabayashi is a Correspondent for Bleacher Report. (Also a Correspondent for MMACanada.net) 

Catch me on Twitter @wakafighter 

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Yushin Okami, Takanori Gomi and the 10 Best Japanese Fighters of All Time

Japanese mixed martial arts has recently fallen on a bit of hard times and as a result, so has the development of the fighters who live and train there. It is a far cry from the glory days of MMA in Japan during the 1990’s and early to mid 20…

Japanese mixed martial arts has recently fallen on a bit of hard times and as a result, so has the development of the fighters who live and train there.

It is a far cry from the glory days of MMA in Japan during the 1990’s and early to mid 2000’s, where the land of the rising sun held epic fight cards regularly under such promotions as “Shooto” Vale Tudo, Pancrase, and of course, Pride FC.

During those glory years, Japanese MMA stood on it’s own with many Japanese fighters becoming local heroes for their blood-and-guts performances against countrymen.

In addition, some became national heroes for waving the Japanese flag in fights against the biggest and baddest fighters from the rest of the world.

It is with great honour that I present to you, The 10 Best Japanese Fighters of All Time.

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UFC 130 Fight Card: Frank Mir vs. Roy Nelson Head-to-Toe Breakdown

It’s the summer where the often maligned UFC heavyweights get to strut thier stuff as we have back-to-back events where the heavyweights are the co-main and main attraction. First thing is first, and at UFC 130 on Saturday night, we will see two&n…

It’s the summer where the often maligned UFC heavyweights get to strut thier stuff as we have back-to-back events where the heavyweights are the co-main and main attraction.

First thing is first, and at UFC 130 on Saturday night, we will see two of the top 10 collide with Frank Mir vs. Roy Nelson. In my opinion, these two are top of the food chain, and this is a battle to determine who will be in line for a title shot soon.

This is an intriguing matchup between two savvy, experienced and hungry fighters, and to me, will be the bout that carries the card.

Here is my head-to-toe breakdown of Mir vs. Nelson.

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UFC 131 Main Card: Behind the Scenes Look at Shane Carwin Training for UFC 131

Get a behind the scenes look at Shane Carwin training for UFC 131 in the 1st episode of “Here We Go: Camp Carwin” posted on YOU TUBE  by officialbudlight. In the video, Shane introduces his camp team and is shown training hard in prepara…

Get a behind the scenes look at Shane Carwin training for UFC 131 in the 1st episode of “Here We Go: Camp Carwin” posted on YOU TUBE  by officialbudlight. In the video, Shane introduces his camp team and is shown training hard in preparation for his June 11th fight in Vancouver against Junior Dos Santos.

In “Here We Go”, the “silverback gorilla” as his camp likes to call him, gives the fan an insiders view of his training camp, as well as some insight into how he trains in the many aspects of mixed martial arts.

“I have great trainers and great partners, and you know just an all out great team I’m working with. They are helping me get better every day.” Carwin told officialbudlight.

“I try to find the best guys I can at their game, and I try to compete with them at that so when I go out there and fight, you know that the fight is actually the easier part of the whole game.”

Carwin has been forced, much to his delight, to alter and intensify his training now that he has replaced injured Brock Lesnar in the main event vs. Cigano at UFC 131.

Camp Carwin is overseen and run by Denver Grudge trainer Trevor Whitman, and he is the undisputed leader of Carwin’s preparation.

Of interesting note in Carwin’s training camp is that aside from his different skill coaches, like wrestling coach Leister Bowling, and Brazilian jiu jitsu coach Amal Easton, he has nutritionist Josh Ford in his camp whose meticulous meals have stripped thirty pounds off of Carwin’s body

That shift in diet and replacing fat weight with lean muscle will go a long way in improving his overall conditioning, and will reduce the chance of Shane gassing out like he did in his loss to Lesnar.

 

Dwight Wakabayashi is a Correspondent for Bleacher Report. (Also a Correspondent for MMACanada.net.) 

Catch me on Twitter at wakafighter 

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 130 FIGHT CARD- 5 Predictions You Can Take to the Bank

Predicting what could possibly happen at a UFC event is a slippery undertaking as there are so many different things that can make or shape the story that is the UFC these days. Whether it be injury replacements, or main event fighters who don’t c…

Predicting what could possibly happen at a UFC event is a slippery undertaking as there are so many different things that can make or shape the story that is the UFC these days.

Whether it be injury replacements, or main event fighters who don’t care UFC 130 is on tap and you can be sure people will be tuning in.

Here are “5 Predictions You Can Take To The Bank” for UFC 130 coming up on May 28.

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