UFC Betting Sites – The Best MMA Online Bookies
UFC best betting sites and the best MMA odds and gambling news
Whenever there is a Canadian fighting on a UFC card, I like to throw out the Canadian report card after the event just to give my thoughts on how they did.UFC 154 being a card in Canada, there were nine on the card. As this is an unusually big report c…
Whenever there is a Canadian fighting on a UFC card, I like to throw out the Canadian report card after the event just to give my thoughts on how they did.
UFC 154 being a card in Canada, there were nine on the card. As this is an unusually big report card, I try to keep it tight.
The grades are based on circumstances and expectations going in, in cage performance and the results. Finishing the fight could mean the difference between an A and an A+.
Here we go.
The UFC held a Fight Club Q & A session with Rory MacDonald today ahead of the 154 weigh-in where he answered questions on various topics in his life to a jam packed house inside the New City Gas Nightclub.MacDonald is…
The UFC held a Fight Club Q & A session with Rory MacDonald today ahead of the 154 weigh-in where he answered questions on various topics in his life to a jam packed house inside the New City Gas Nightclub.
MacDonald is set to take on Hawaiian legend BJ Penn on Dec. 8 on UFC on Fox 5 in a fight that was supposed to take place in September at UFC 152 in Toronto.
The story of who called whom out and how the fight was made is well known and MacDonald confirmed today that he first heard that Penn wanted to fight him, so he seized the opportunity and went public with his interest in that fight on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani.
“I’m a better fighter than him. I’m not really scared anywhere the fight goes. I’m a better striker, I’m a better wrestler and I’m better on the ground as far as of MMA jiu jitsu. Probably not straight jiu jitsu, we all know what he has done there so.
When it was mentioned how Penn has accused MacDonald and the Tristar gym of being pumped up on steroids and banned substances, MacDonald was blunt in his response.
“He’s got a lot of excuses that guy, he likes to stir up a lot of shit. He likes to get people excited. At the end of the day, he can say whatever he wants to get people excited, I’m still gonna beat his ass.”
Director of UFC Community Relations and host of the session Reed Harris mentioned on a couple of occasions that he has seen Penn recently and that he believes that Penn is in phenomenal shape and Rory will see the best Penn that he will ever see.
It was obvious the second time he mentioned it, that MacDonald had heard enough.
“To be honest with you I don’t really care,” he said glaring at Harris.
“It doesn’t matter what shape he is in. I guess it’s better for the fans if he’s in shape because it will be a better fight.”
MacDonald is extremely confidant that he is going to put a whooping on the former lightweight champion and future Hall of Famer.
I can’t wait to find out on December 8.
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
Filthy Tom Lawlor did not disappoint today at the UFC 154 Open Workouts from the New City Gas bar and night club in Montreal.Lawlor is known for his mauling fighting style and his entertaining creativity at workouts and when he enters the cage.Tod…
Filthy Tom Lawlor did not disappoint today at the UFC 154 Open Workouts from the New City Gas bar and night club in Montreal.
Lawlor is known for his mauling fighting style and his entertaining creativity at workouts and when he enters the cage.
Today, he came out wearing the traditional Sumo diaper, and proceeded to put on a Sumo exhibition with his two training partners. One of them, former UFC fighter Seth Petruzelli was solely credited with the idea.
“Actually Seth Petruzelli was the inspiration for it, it was all his idea so if there is any bad backlash I want it directed solely at him,” Lawlor stated.
Despite being pushed and prodded a bit by the media, Lawlor would not tip his hand at what’s in store come his entrance on Saturday night.
“I’ll have some sort of a walkout, but I can’t tell anyone that now. I can’t give away the secrets, I can’t show the goods.”
He did tip his hat a bit, or did he?
“It won’t have anything to do with Canadians. Well most of it. Well, kind of, maybe it will. Nah it won’t have anything to do with Canadians.”
All jokes aside, Lawlor is set to take on French fighter Francis Carmont, who lives in Montreal and trains at the prestigious Tristar gym.
Lawlor has fought three Canadian fighters in his last four fights, knocking off two of them, Jason MacDonald and Patrick Cote.
Carmont is not a Canadian citizen, but the country has adopted him since he moved here to train a couple of years ago.
I asked Lawlor myself if he is trying to pick off our best one by one, and after a brief debate as to why Carmont is considered a Canuck, Lawlor confessed he asked for this one, but he has nothing against Canadians at all.
“Actually I did ask for this fight. There was a list of names I gave them and he was one of them, you know he’s on a really good win streak, it has nothing to do with him being Canadian. I love the Canadian fans, I love Canadian bacon, I love it all, I love Tim Horton’s more than anything.”
Lawlor‘s fighting style fits his nickname to a tee, as he stays in tight, smothers your offense and makes the fight as “filthy” as he can as his blueprint to victory.
He is an in your face fighter, and a well deserved step up in competition for Carmont.
If Lawlor can work Carmont like he worked the diaper in the workouts, Carmont will be in for a tough night.
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
UFC 154 will feature nine Canadian fighters in eight different fights on Saturday night, not including French fighter turned honorary Canadian Francis Carmont, who lives and trains at Tristar in Montreal. They were all on hand this afternoon at th…
UFC 154 will feature nine Canadian fighters in eight different fights on Saturday night, not including French fighter turned honorary Canadian Francis Carmont, who lives and trains at Tristar in Montreal.
They were all on hand this afternoon at the Sheraton Hotel to pose for photos and talk to the media as part of a special press opportunity and Community Works event. While the other fighters conducted interviews, Nick Ring and Patrick Cote both got a nice Movember trim as part of the community program.
Many of the veteran Canadians on this card cut their teeth and paid their dues in this sport in this very city (long before the lights of the UFC came calling on them), and the feelings of nostalgia were front and center for many.
Featherweight Mark Hominick let us in on why.
“Being in Montreal is a nostalgic feeling. George St-Pierre, Patrick Cote, Sam Stout and myself were all champions in our respective divisions in the TKO organization, which was basically the Canadian champions at the time. So there’s definitely a feeling of nostalgia and a feeling of comfort.”
His voice clear in excitement, he continued.
“It was almost like I got off the plane and I felt at ease. You know, I’ve been here before, and I’m just excited. I’m kinda enjoying this week and getting back to my roots and it felt like that in my training as well. I think I had to go back to my roots and remember what got me here.”
Hominick‘s teammate, lightweight Sam Stout, was an undefeated 7-0 in his TKO fights in Montreal. He was also on the first three UFC cards held in Montreal, where he went 1-2 with two Fight of the Night performances in his win over Matt Wiman and his loss to Jeremy Stephens.
Always a fan favorite in Canada, Stout will be facing Montreal fighter Jon Makdessi, and he isn’t sure who the crowd will be pulling for on Saturday night.
“I’m interested to find out how that’s all going to play out. I’ve fought in the Bell Center a lot more than he has, so I’m not sure if the crowd’s gonna be a Montreal crowd or a Canadian crowd, so it’s really difficult to predict whether they will be cheering for him or cheering for me, or if they are going to be split down the middle. I’m prepared for either and if the crowds booing.
“I feel really at home here. I feel really comfortable with the city and fighting in the Bell Center.”
Don’t be surprised if Stout picks up his seventh UFC fight bonus one way or the other.
Dwight Wakabayashi is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained first-hand.
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
The two top welterweight fighters in the world were on hand today to face the media and fans at the UFC 154 press conference from New City Gas in Montreal. Both men have oozed respect and admiration for each other leading up to the figh…
The two top welterweight fighters in the world were on hand today to face the media and fans at the UFC 154 press conference from New City Gas in Montreal. Both men have oozed respect and admiration for each other leading up to the fight, and the air was no different today:
“I see George as the champion. He’s been one of the most dominant guys in the welterweight division. He’s one of the best fighters that has ever gotten in the Octagon. Until somebody beats him, until I beat him, he’s the champion,” Condit said from the stage today.
“I’m honored to have the chance to compete against George. He’s someone I’ve admired as a fighter for a long time, but he’s where I want to be.”
Condit continued his praise, and his statements were genuine and true, but then he assured everyone that the respect will end once they step in the cage on Saturday night.
“He’s the top guy in the sport, the top guy in the division, he has cemented a legacy as the best in the world. He’s the best in the division and that’s what I want, so all admiration aside I’m coming to take that from him.”
“George is a guy I’ve wanted to fight and looked up to in the sport and I have wanted his status for a very long time. George is the best in the world and I want to be the best in the world so I have to beat George.”
The returning champion was loose and jovial today.
He stressed that Condit is the most dangerous fighter he has faced to date and he was very Bruce Lee-like in his approach to this fight.
“I don’t want to think too much in there. I want to be more opportunistic and let it flow,” he stated.
St Pierre continued to lavish praise on Condit:
For sure it’s gonna be tough, but I don’t want anything less than a title shot and to fight the best man in this division and it is Carlos, so I’m happy for the opportunity. I think what makes him so good is because he’s a very smart guy. He’s a thinking fighter you know. He doesn’t just go in there and throw you know he’s a thinking guy and the people in his entourage, like his coaches are very smart too.
“He’s a very smart human being, and over his athletic ability, that’s why I think he’s so successful I believe.”
It may seem very fluffy and boring, but a Carlos Condit fight is never boring, and St-Pierre seems to have a new purpose in his approach to the fight. They are both scared and wary of each other but equally hungry to be the man at the same time.
That’s the recipe for an incredible clash.
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
It has been a different year in the UFC.In a year that has seen unprecedented injuries and division queue jumping, leave it to champions Georges St-Pierre and Carlos Condit to restore some order to the landscape of the sport.Trash talking and…
It has been a different year in the UFC.
In a year that has seen unprecedented injuries and division queue jumping, leave it to champions Georges St-Pierre and Carlos Condit to restore some order to the landscape of the sport.
Trash talking and fight lobbying has been very popular this year and, to the dismay of many, has landed a few fighters some big fights. Chael Sonnen got Jon Jones, Stephan Bonnar got Anderson Silva. It kept Jason Miller in the game long past his due date. The UFC has shown now more than ever that hot air and light hearted disrespect can land you a big fight.
These two, however, have done it the old fashioned way: through integrity, hard work and excellence inside the cage—not so much the ability to entertain outside of it.
Don’t get me wrong, the Jones-Sonnen and Aldo-Edgar fight scenarios are all well and good and are a major part of success in today’s UFC. Those match ups and the way they came about only make me appreciate the integrity of St-Pierre-Condit even more.
In the second episode of UFC Primetime, (Courtesy MMAFighting.com) Carlos Condit says it best.
“It’s not the guy talking the loudest that you’ve got to worry about. It’s the quiet humble guy that’s not saying anything that’s really the dangerous one.”
In the end, did Anderson Silva have to worry much about Chael Sonnen the second time around? Did all of Michael Bisping’s bravado help him against Dan Henderson?
People wonder what the difference is between a fighter and a martial artist? The UFC is becoming more and more filled with “fighters”. Men who love the show, the trash talk, the attention leading up to a fight. Do those guys always lay it on the line when they get in the cage?
This fight is the perfect example of two true martial artists who have done all their talking in the cage throughout their entire careers.
Many great fighters take a different all around approach to the sport. Sonnen can talk with the best of them. Jones is a persona—the young, rising superstar. Bisping is brash and can talk and generate an audience.
I am more afraid of the silent assassin. Anderson Silva, Jose Aldo, Benson Henderson, Dan Henderson, Cain Velasquez, Georges St-Pierre, Carlos Condit. These are men who know and therefore don’t need to speak.
St-Pierre and Condit can just flat out fight. They don’t need talk or words to build heat and interest. They are both the best of the best with uncompromising integrity. They have both spilled blood, sweat and tears and not just breath and hot air to get to this main event title fight.
Saturday night in Montreal, St-Pierre vs Condit is truly the way it should be.
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