Author: Ian Hanford

Thiago Silva Reportedly Suspended 6 Months After Failing Another Drug Test

Thiago Silva is an extremely talented UFC fighter, but he can’t seem to stay out of trouble.According to a press release by Zuffa officials, Silva failed a post-fight drug test after his light heavyweight fight versus Stanislov Nedkov:
Thiago Silva tes…

Thiago Silva is an extremely talented UFC fighter, but he can’t seem to stay out of trouble.

According to a press release by Zuffa officials, Silva failed a post-fight drug test after his light heavyweight fight versus Stanislov Nedkov:

Thiago Silva tested positive for marijuana metabolites following his bout at UFC on FUEL TV in Macau.The UFC organization has a strict, consistent policy against the use of any illegal and/or performance-enhancing drugs, stimulants or masking agents. Silva has admitted to taking the banned substance and has agreed to participate in an approved drug-rehabilitation program and serve a six-month suspension retroactive to the November 10 event. He must pass a drug test upon completion of the suspension before receiving clearance to fight again.

 

This is the second time this has happened. After UFC 125 in 2011, Silva got caught submitting a false urine sample. He was forced to forfeit his win over Brandon Vera, was suspended for a year and had to give up 25 percent of his purse, according to Bohn‘s report.

When you look at it that way, six months seems like nothing. For a second-time offender, UFC could have cracked down harder on him to really teach him a lesson. Since he didn’t learn his lesson the first time, that would have been ideal.

Bohn also mentions that rehab isn’t uncommon for UFC lately. Dave Herman was forced to go after testing positive for the same thing last month.

Silva is 14-3-2 in his UFC career. He’s a jiu-jitsu specialist who has picked up 11 knockouts and two submission wins along the way.

Having a good record is nice, but Silva now has two overturned victories attached to his name. That’s a reputation that he will never shake. Couple that with losses to Rashad Evans and Lyoto Machida in the past, and it’s hard to tell if this talented fighter will ever get over the hump.

Hopefully for his sake, his stint in rehab, and this suspension, will straighten him out and allow him to reach his full potential in the Octagon.

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UFC 149 Results: Renan Barao’s Victory over Urijah Faber Cements His Legacy

Renan Barao had 28 career victories before his UFC Bantamweight title victory over Urijah Faber at UFC 149, but this victory put him in new territory.He’s an excellent fighter who has ripped off 30 consecutive MMA victories, but until now, he’s never h…

Renan Barao had 28 career victories before his UFC Bantamweight title victory over Urijah Faber at UFC 149, but this victory put him in new territory.

He’s an excellent fighter who has ripped off 30 consecutive MMA victories, but until now, he’s never held the sport’s ultimate achievement. 

Without a championship belt, a fighter’s legacy is null and void. It’s like an NFL quarterback with no Super Bowl rings. Fighters without the hardware just don’t match up next to the competitors who have earned their climactic moment. 

Barao’s victory cemented his legacy. UFC fans would have shook their heads if he had lost. They would have turned to the friend sitting next to them and said “I knew he wasn’t that good.” Who is going to say that now? 

No one I would presume. 

Barao’s first title victory over Faber gives him some clout. Faber is respected, and his 26 career victories give his reputation some validation. It also helps that he’s held titles in multiple divisions during his fighting career. 

It’s not like Barao defeated a “nobody.” Faber is definitely a “somebody.” This victory officially enters him into the pool of today’s top UFC fighters, and there’s no longer any reason to discount his ability.

Based on ability alone, Barao is one of the best pure fighters around. He is powerful, agile and has the killer instinct necessary to finish a reeling opponent. Without a title, those are all forgettable traits. Countless fighters have come through UFC’s ranks with the very same talents, and their title-less careers are now lost among the plethora of so-so fighters.

This victory separates Barao from that class. He’s no longer just a fighter; he’s a championship fighter. Victories are nice to have, but championship victories are what people remember. 

Prior to his victory over Faber, Barao was just a fighter who wins a lot. Now he’s the championship-winning fighter who took the long road to the top. 

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Ronda Rousey: Scathing Statements Add to MMA Fighter’s Ascending Popularity

How many of you really knew Ronda Rousey before ESPN’s Body Issue released her tantalizing photographs? You probably knew the name, but that’s nothing compared to what her name is now.Rousey has enjoyed a meteoric rise in popularity over the last week….

How many of you really knew Ronda Rousey before ESPN’s Body Issue released her tantalizing photographs? You probably knew the name, but that’s nothing compared to what her name is now.

Rousey has enjoyed a meteoric rise in popularity over the last week. She was chosen as a Body Issue cover athlete, and further increased her notoriety with comments she directed at one of America’s most famous socialites, Kim Kardashian.

After saying she would “beat the crap out of” Kardashian, Rousey added (per the New York Post):

Why is everyone slipping it under the carpet now? She’s selling Skechers to 13-year-olds. I don’t want a girl whose entire fame is based on a sex video to be selling Skechers to my 13-year-old little sister.

Rousey has a point, but that’s not the point. She’s become a headline figure almost overnight, and she’s done it with things entirely unrelated to her respective sport. 

I’m not saying Rousey is a bad fighter (after those comments, I wouldn’t dare), but her popularity isn’t widespread because of that. She is currently Strikeforce’s Bantamweight champion, but attacking one of America’s most famous celebrities does more for her reputation than her fighting ever would. 

People go cuckoo for this stuff. It’s plain and simple. Regular people live for sound bytes and controversy, and Rousey provided both in a 30-second span of time.

I don’t think she did this deliberately. Rousey is pestered repeatedly by the reporter before she finally reveals her real thoughts on Kardashian, but she put them out there nonetheless.

Those words will do more for her popularity than any fight for Strikeforce would ever do. It doesn’t matter how good she becomes. Rousey will always be “that female fighter who wanted to beat up Kim Kardashian.” 

Rousey had already got a ton of publicity for her risque cover photos in this year’s Body Issue.

These comments make her name even bigger.

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UFC 148 Results: Projecting Anderson Silva’s Next Foe After Controversial TKO

Anderson Silva’s 10th consecutive title defense was shrouded in controversy Saturday night. Did he really attempt to knee Chael Sonnen in the head while he was down?It sure looked liked he did, and Sonnen believes that much is true. His coach, Scott Mc…

Anderson Silva‘s 10th consecutive title defense was shrouded in controversy Saturday night. Did he really attempt to knee Chael Sonnen in the head while he was down?

It sure looked liked he did, and Sonnen believes that much is true. His coach, Scott McQuarry, plans to appeal the match’s result. He told MMAJunkie.com this:

“Obviously, there were minor infractions of grabbing shorts and greasing himself up,” McQuarry said. “But the knee to the face … I’ve looked at it from numerous angles. I can see where it hit his face. It did slide down to his chest. But that should be considered a no-contest.

“What I’m looking for is a rematch.”

If Sonnen’s party gets their wish then maybe we will see Silva versus Sonnen for a third time in the coming future, but that’s highly doubtful. There aren’t any concrete grounds for the appeal to go through, despite the obvious direction of Silva’s knee.

Silva is still the UFC middleweight champion. Whether people enjoyed the decision or not, he is going to be defending his title again.

Assuming the next opponent isn’t Sonnen, let’s take a look at two possibilities for “The Spider’s” next title defense.

 

Rashad Evans

Former light heavyweight champion Evans sent out a tweet Saturday night stating his willingness to fight Silva:

Evans just lost to Jon Jones in April, but he’d won four straight decisions before that. He defeated Thiago Silva, Quinton Jackson and Tito Ortiz in succession before defeating Phil Davis in January.

Prior to that he lost the UFC Light Heavyweight championship to Lyoto Machida at UFC 98.

Evans has had mixed results lately, but he’s a talented fighter. He would give Silva a marquee opponent and an elite wrestler to face in the Octagon.

UFC fans wold be excited to see that, and each competitor would be challenged by the other. That’s a perfect matchup to me.

 

Mark Munoz

Munoz doesn’t bring Evans’ popularity to the fold, but he’s an exciting fighter in his own right. He’s only been active since 2007, and he’s racked up a 12-and-2 record with six knockouts so far in his career.

He will fight Chris Weidman on July 11. The fight on Fuel TV’s UFC showcase has major bearing on the idea behind a Silva versus Munoz match in the future. If Munoz wins, he deserves a shot at the middleweight crown.

Munoz hasn’t lost since losing a decision to Yushin Okami in 2010. Since then, he’s ripped off four straight wins including a devastating knockout victory over C.B. Dollaway on March 3, 2011. He’s enjoyed a solid run, and the best part of his career is still in front of him.

Giving Munoz a chance to knock off the greatest mixed martial artist of all-time would be a wonderful opportunity for this 34-year-old Filipino fighter.

It wouldn’t create the buzz of an Evans matchup, but Munoz may be more qualified right now. He just has to beat Weidman first.

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UFC 148: Last-Minute Predictions for Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen

UFC 148’s headline match features a rematch of epic proportions. Anderson “The Spider” Silva will face off against Chael “The People’s Champ” Sonnen in a highly anticipated Octagon battle.The first battle between these two skilled fighters won the MMA …

UFC 148‘s headline match features a rematch of epic proportions. Anderson “The Spider” Silva will face off against Chael “The People’s Champ” Sonnen in a highly anticipated Octagon battle.

The first battle between these two skilled fighters won the MMA Fight of the Year Award in 2010. It was extremely close, but Silva forced Sonnen to submit in the fifth round with a triangle armbar. 

Sonnen controlled most of the action for five rounds, but he was never able to turn his back control into a Silva tapout. 

The first bout will be tough to match, but don’t expect Saturday night’s fight to disappoint. 

Let’s make three last-minute predictions about the direction this fight will take.

 

Silva Will Stay on His Feet

Silva spent a surprising amount of time on his back last time. Granted, Sonnen is an extremely established wrestler in the Octagon and in college (NCAA All-American at Oregon in 1998), but Silva is too good of a fighter to face the same problems twice in a row.

He knows Sonnen’s approach, but I’m sure Sonnen will adjust as well. Silva’s lone weakness is his takedown defense, and Sonnen knows that’s his only real chance at scoring a victory.

Despite fighting from his back the first time around, Silva still managed to inflict damage. He landed his fair share of strikes, and that will only increase with a shored-up defense. 

Silva has won 14 consecutive fights for a reason. Great fighters learn from their mistakes, and don’t expect anything less from “The Spider.”

 

Sonnen Will Surprise Silva

Silva has a direct advantage against Sonnen if this fight is fought upright, but Sonnen is a better striker than he gets credit for.

He only has seven career knockouts, but he is a lightning-quick striker. He’s also a very smart attacker and understands how to pick his spots. 

Don’t expect him to land enough punches to win, but he will rattle Silva more than once. He has a ton of confidence, and he knows how close he came to winning the first battle. That will translate into Saturday night. 

Sonnen can’t go toe-to-toe with Silva, but he knows that. He also knows Silva would prefer to stand up and will bring a game plan that fits that style.

Silva will land more shots, but he won’t go unharmed.

 

Silva Wins by KO

Silva’s insane length will earn him his 19th career knockout in this fight. He has a 77.6-inch reach, which gives him a 2.5-inch advantage over Sonnen’s 74-inch reach.

Expect that to have a major impact this time around. 

Last time, Silva allowed Sonnen to get inside and take his legs. This time, Silva will protect himself.

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Silva vs. Franklin: Wrestling Is Key to Victory for Powerful Stand-Up Fighters

Wanderlei Silva and Rich Franklin have combined for 39 knockouts in 82 total fights, but their power isn’t going to determine the winner of UFC 147’s headline bout.These violent stand-up fighters must use their technical wrestling and takedown skills t…

Wanderlei Silva and Rich Franklin have combined for 39 knockouts in 82 total fights, but their power isn’t going to determine the winner of UFC 147’s headline bout.

These violent stand-up fighters must use their technical wrestling and takedown skills to win this contest.

Franklin has 10 victories by way of submission in his career. Silva only has three, while wrestling has never been his strongest suit.

We know each fighter has one-shot knockout power—they’re both elite, albeit different, striking players. 

That leaves the ground game as this fight’s determining factor.

Let’s take a look at each fighter’s wrestling abilities and how they’ll shape this battle.

 

Wanderlei Silva

Silva is a brawler. He relies on his kickboxing skills and Muay Thai talents to devastate opponents on their feet.

However, his game changes when you get him onto his back.

His takedown defense is flawed because he lacks defensive instincts. He’s usually so focused on his own knockout that he forgets to cover himself up.

This could be exploited by Franklin on Saturday night. He will look to shoot Silva’s legs and neutralize the Brazilian’s heavy fists and lethal kicks.

If the majority of this fight is fought standing up, I have to give the edge to Silva. He’s had some of the most brutal knockouts that mixed martial arts has ever seen.

His chances of winning this rematch come down to wrestling. If he can fight well, out of his element, he will emerge with a victory.

 

Rich Franklin

Franklin is technically savvy in all areas of fighting. He’d prefer to stay on his feet, but he is no slouch on the ground.

His submission tactics have been highlighted throughout his 20-plus year mixed martial arts career. He has 10 career victories by submission.

I have to give him a big advantage in this department. In the first fight, both fighters struggled to strike with any real consistency. Expect them to compensate for that with a heavier reliance on their grappling skills.

If the match comes down to that, Franklin’s quickness and agility will pay off. He will pick his spots. Yes, he must be mindful of Silva’s one-punch capabilities, but Franklin has a vast understanding of how to fight.

The ability to adapt and fight multiple styles will help Franklin at UFC 147. Neither of these fighters are in their prime, and this fight isn’t for a championship belt, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t must-see TV.

Watching their styles push and pull against the other will be interesting.

In the end, I think Franklin’s understanding of his limitations, and his willingness to fight against his preferred style, will earn him the victory.

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