Author: Dwight Wakabayashi

UFC on Fox 5 Penn and Rua: Two Legends Could Fall This Weekend

It could be the end for two mixed martial arts legends this weekend at UFC on Fox 5 from Seattle.Hawaiian fighting legend BJ “The Prodigy” Penn, and longtime Brazilian light heavyweight Mauricio “Shogun” Rua are both in action, trying to main…

It could be the end for two mixed martial arts legends this weekend at UFC on Fox 5 from Seattle.

Hawaiian fighting legend BJ “The Prodigy” Penn, and longtime Brazilian light heavyweight Mauricio “Shogun” Rua are both in action, trying to maintain their status in the pecking order of the UFC.

Penn has been near or at the top of two different divisions for a span of 11 years starting in 2001, and is still considered by many a top-ten fighter at both 155 and 170 pounds. He is clearly nearing the end of his time in the fight game, but will have one last shot at staying in the welterweight title picture by beating new-breed star and rising Canadian young gun Rory MacDonald.

MacDonald is a monster of a man for welterweight, and once again Penn gives up a large size advantage and will need every ounce of his experience, skill and cardio to stand a chance against him.

This fight has the makings of a classic, or it could be a very ugly end for the Hawaiian legend. Can Penn stop MacDonald’s meteoric rise, or will this really be the last time we see BJ Penn in the Octagon?

The fall of MMA legends may not stop there on Saturday night, as immediately following Penn vs. MacDonald, former Pride and UFC champion Brazilian superstar Mauricio Rua will face rising light heavyweight contender Alexander Gustafsson.

Rua has been a champion in both the Pride Fighting organization and the UFC in his ten-year career, and has beaten the best-of-the-best in the world like Quinton Jackson, Chuck Liddell, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Kevin Randleman, Alistair Overeem (twice), Forrest Griffin and Lyoto Machida. Rua lost the UFC light heavyweight title to Jon Jones in March of 2011 and is looking for one final shot to reclaim the gold.

Like Penn-MacDonald, the Rua-Gustafsson fight is another classic case of a possible changing-of-the-guard scenario. Jones aside, established MMA stars like Rua have been ruling the roost of many of the divisions in the UFC for years now, with fighters like Gustafsson waiting in the wings.

If Gustafsson is able to dominate Rua like many believe he will, it may be the end of Rua‘s brilliant MMA career on Saturday night.    

Two legends looking to send the youngsters back to the training room. Two rising stars looking to put an end to two brilliant careers.

These two fights are not even the main event on Saturday night, and my Christmas comes on December 8th this year. 

 

Dwight Wakabayashi is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report MMA and guest blogger for Sportsnet.ca UFC.

Catch him on Facebook and Twitter @wakafightermma.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

MMA’s Biggest Losers in the Month of November

November is in the rear-view mirror, and many females are thanking their lucky stars that many of the moustaches have gone with it. Props to those men who have the courage to make the lip fur permanent, but be warned, it could get you on…

November is in the rear-view mirror, and many females are thanking their lucky stars that many of the moustaches have gone with it. Props to those men who have the courage to make the lip fur permanent, but be warned, it could get you on a list similar to this in the future.

It was a fairly light month in the world of MMA, but there are still fighters out there who did not do themselves any favours in the last month.

For some, making this list was self-inflicted, while for others, it was simply bad luck and circumstance.

Here are the 10 biggest losers in the month of November.

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15 Most Athletic Fighters in Today’s MMA Game

We all know that there are many MMA fighters that are overall accomplished athletes. Most of them are in other combat sports such as wrestling or karate or bjj or “other” sports like that. This list is not about that.This list does not take the MM…

We all know that there are many MMA fighters that are overall accomplished athletes. Most of them are in other combat sports such as wrestling or karate or bjj or “other” sports like that. This list is not about that.

This list does not take the MMA fighters who were the most accomplished wrestlers in college or led the high school football team to the state title.

This list is about the most athletic fighters in MMA today, meaning who can do the most athletic things, during a fight, inside the cage and who uses diverse athletic traits. Chuck Liddell was a great, accomplished fighter but he wouldn’t be called the most athletic in the cage would he? 

Here are the 15 most athletic fighters in today’s game.

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UFC on Fox 5 BJ Penn: ‘No One Mentions Me in the GOAT’S Anymore & Its My Fault’

The UFC on Fox 5 media call was held this afternoon featuring Dana White, Eric Shanks and five of the top six fighters on the stacked December 8th card from Seattle. Alex Gustafsson was unable to make the call, but it didn’t matter as most media q…

The UFC on Fox 5 media call was held this afternoon featuring Dana White, Eric Shanks and five of the top six fighters on the stacked December 8th card from Seattle. Alex Gustafsson was unable to make the call, but it didn’t matter as most media questions were directed at returning legend BJ Penn.

Penn is making a much-anticipated return to the Octagon against rising star Rory MacDonald. After losing to Nick Diaz over one year ago, Penn hinted at retirement. The opportunity to fight MacDonald brought him back.

Here are some comments from Penn taken from the conference call:

“I can’t sit around, I should do this while I can. Rory is one of the top guys so to fight him is a good one for me. Team Tristar is a great team. This is a great fight all around for me.”

“I really expect a lot of myself on Dec 8th. I got together with my former training team and we took my belly off. The best thing for me was the fight being postponed. Rory said he saw me and I looked fat. That he is gonna kill me in the cage and that really lit a fire under me. I expect the best BJ Penn we have ever seen.”

The young Canadian, MacDonald, has thrown a lot of disrespect towards Penn leading up to the fight. Penn has also thrown out allegations of Rory using performance-enhancing drugs. Penn refused to get into that too much today.:

“I’m not gonna sit here and get into that. I’m not gonna point fingers. Doping is a pain staking thing for the UFC. I’m not saying Rory you do steroids. I’m just trying to cover myself and look out for my own butt and make sure things are fair.”

Penn was asked his opinion on superfights, and he had glowing praise for president Dana White:

“Superfights are great. It causes a lot of hype and Dana knows that. It’s awesome. it’s what this sport is about getting the two best fighters in the world in the ring. He doesn’t allow Mayweather-Pacquiao situations, Dana White is the man.”

Penn has been in the fight game a long time and has faced the best of the best. Why does a fight with someone as UFC green as Rory MacDonald interest him? Have MacDonald’s comments given him extra motivation?

“Fighting is not a sport for me. It’s still a fight for me. I go into the fight and I just love it when my opponent says things like that. It’s all wonderful I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

MMA Heat’s Karyn Bryant asked BJ if he concerns himself with his legacy. “I was telling Dana, I watch all these interviews. No one says my name in the greatest fighters anymore and it’s my fault. I told Dana I have a real problem with that.”

What about the people who do mention him in the best of the best all time? “I want to thank all those people even Benson Henderson always gives me props. I want to be known as one of the best. I have some things left to accomplish.”

The call ended with a question about the GSP-Silva superfight. Penn was asked if he agrees with how GSP is handling it. Penn was soft in his response. “That fight is for George. I don’t want to say much on that. Everybody on this call knows what BJ would do.”

 

We do know what Penn would do and that is why he is one of the best of all time.

Like GSP against Penn last time, and like Silva against GSP in the future superfight, MacDonald will have a huge size advantage over Penn come December 8th. Penn simply doesn’t care and will risk it.

That is what sets him apart.

 

Dwight Wakabayashi is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report MMA and guest blogger for Sportsnet.ca UFC. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained firsthand.

Catch him on Facebook and Twitter @wakafightermma.

 

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

SFS 7 Results: Johnson Beats Romero Again; Saggo and Dickson Dominate

Tristan Johnson vs. Will Romero (Featherweight)Nova Scotia featherweight Tristan Johnson edged out Will Romero again in a very good fight in which neither fighter was interested at all in going to the ground. They traded hands early and often and Johns…

Tristan Johnson vs. Will Romero (Featherweight)

Nova Scotia featherweight Tristan Johnson edged out Will Romero again in a very good fight in which neither fighter was interested at all in going to the ground. They traded hands early and often and Johnson was able to knock Romero down early in the fight, giving him the first round.

Romero came back strong in the second, landing some good shots and using some strong kicks to start to score more and even the fight after two rounds. It was all up for grabs in the third, and both men were content to trade hands and both did so with equal success, until Johnson wisely shot for a late takedown. He barely got it, but it was enough to secure the round and the fight over Romero.

Johnson ended the feud by taking the rematch via unanimous decision.

 

Alex Ricci vs. Kevin Morin (Lightweight)

Alex Ricci showed an evolved game in his unanimous decision win over Kevin Morin. Ricci used excellent takedown and ground defence to keep Morin on his feet for most of the night.

Morin was extremely tough and willing the entire fight, and it made for a great fight. But Ricci was the more busy and technical fighter from the opening round. This continued to the very end as he showed determination to earn the win.

 

Jason Saggo vs. Iraj Hadin (Lightweight)

It took him a few tries to do it, but Jason Saggo was able to secure a rear-naked choke submission victory over a very tough Iraj Hadin. Saggo got Hadin‘s back early in the first round but was unable to close the deal, as Hadin showed good determination in his submission defence. It is always a smart move for Saggo to take it to the ground, a tactic he commented on after the show.

Yeah, we knew that he was aggressive in his stand-up, and it was just a riskier fight with his power hooks. And I’m more of a technician on the ground, so that was the game plan.

After tasting some leather from Hadin to start the second, Saggo went to the well again, taking him down and quickly getting his back. This time, he was able to outlast Hadin and get the choke at 3:41 of the second round. Saggo is set for a nice step up in his next fight as he continues to work on his all around game.

There’s room to improve in every area and I’m actually going to Thailand in three weeks. I’m going to be spending two months in Thailand just working my Muay Thai.

Fans on Twitter are calling for Saggo-Ricci next, and I would love to see it.

 

Ryan Dickson vs. Brandt Dewsbery (Welterweight)

Ryan Dickson needed every ounce of his brawn and technical ability to outlast a very tough Brandt Dewsbery to get a rear-naked choke submission at 4:39 of the second round. Dickson mauled Dewsbery early to dominate the first round before Dewsbery was able to briefly turn the tide early in the second.

In the end, Dickson’s strength was just too much for Dewsbery, and he was able to grapple and maneuver for the choke. Dickson stays undefeated at 5-0, with all his wins coming via submission. It’s time for another step up for the Joslin’s MMA prodigy.

 

Prelim Results

Elias Theodorou vs Ali Mokdad (Middleweight)

Elias Theodorou kept his undefeated record intact, using his patented all-around game to initiate and control Windsor’s Ali Mokdad all night. Theodorou was first off all night and Mokdad seemed hesitant to initiate anything at all on his way to his third loss in his last four fights.

 

Adam Assenza vs. Tommy Cote (Lightweight)

Adam Assenza dominated a game Tommy Cote for three rounds to take home a unanimous decision win. Assenza was clearly the stronger fighter, but Cote hung in there and it made for a very good fight.

 

Rory McDonell vs. Desmond Green (Lightweight)

Veteran Rory McDonell pulled off a beautiful submission from the guard at 4:41 of the first round to defeat Desmond Green. It was part omoplata, part gogoplata and part arm bar, and Score commentator Robin Black described it best as a “club sandwich” submission, because it had a bit of everything in it.

 

Paul Jalbert vs. Oliver Vadnais (Lightweight)

In one of the uglier fights of the night, Burlington fighter Paul Jalbert made a successful debut by taking a unanimous decision win.

 

Dwight Wakabayashi is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report MMA and guest blogger for Sportsnet.ca UFC.

Catch him on Facebook and Twitter @wakafightermma.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

SFS 7 Results: Jesse Ronson Batters but Can’t Finish Crazy-Tough Ryan Healy

The fans in the jam-packed Hamilton Theatre chanted, “UFC UFC UFC!” as Jesse Ronson put on an absolute fighting clinic at the expense of Ryan Healy tonight in the co-main event of SFS 7. Despite eating a barrage of various kinds of strikes, and getting…

The fans in the jam-packed Hamilton Theatre chanted, “UFC UFC UFC!” as Jesse Ronson put on an absolute fighting clinic at the expense of Ryan Healy tonight in the co-main event of SFS 7. Despite eating a barrage of various kinds of strikes, and getting bloody in the process, the tough veteran in Healy simply refused to go away.

Ronson battered Healy for three rounds, seemingly scoring strikes at will, as Healy forged on to try and get Ronson to the ground. Even when the two went to the ground, Ronson was able to thrive with his wrestling and defence until he got it back to the feet again.

I was a little worried because every time I dropped, he dropped; he has that wrestling base. I wanted to take him down—believe me, I wanted to be the first guy to submit him. But after I realized I could land, I literally was able to land everything I wanted on this guy and he still stood there.

The Adrenaline Training Center fighter once again showed that his striking is some of the best in the country at 155 pounds. With the fans chanting UFC every time Ronson fights now, it is clear the big show should give the man a serious look.

In his in-cage, post-fight interview with Arda Ocal, Ronson stated that all he wanted for Christmas is a UFC contract, and he repeated it when I spoke to him in the dressing room.

“All I want for Christmas is a UFC contract. Please just give it to me. If not, I really don’t know who’s next.

Ronson was a naughty boy tonight against Healy, and for that, he deserves a nice UFC gift from Santa.

 

(See the video for post-fight comments from Jesse Ronson.)

Dwight Wakabayashi is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report MMA and guest blogger for Sportsnet.ca UFC.

Catch him on Facebook and Twitter @wakafightermma.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com