I have mixed feelings. I’m sad for leaving but happy with this new job in the UFC. I remember when I met [Junior dos Santos], he was brave in training, and before his UFC debut against the current champion Fabricio Werdum, I told Dana White to watch for his uppercut. And that’s how he beat him. I have good eyes for new talent, and I will look for new talents in this new generation.
I have mixed feelings. I’m sad for leaving but happy with this new job in the UFC. I remember when I met [Junior dos Santos], he was brave in training, and before his UFC debut against the current champion Fabricio Werdum, I told Dana White to watch for his uppercut. And that’s how he beat him. I have good eyes for new talent, and I will look for new talents in this new generation.
To recap Big Nog’s career would be both incredibly tasking and redundant — from the truck accident that nearly took his life as a child to his now infamous fights with the like of Fedor Emelianenko, Mirko Cro Cop, and Josh Barnett in Pride, right up to the moment he captured the UFC interim heavyweight title over Tim Sylvia (the absolutely beautiful misdirection displayed in that finishing sequence will forever be a standout moment in my mental MMA bank), Nogueira rose to become on of the most respected, the most feared, and simultaneously most beloved figures in the sport. He’s recovered from more haymakers, head kicks, thrashings, and supposedly career-ending injuries than any fight has or ever will recover from, and he did it with complete, unquestioning resolve.
Remember when Big Nog kicked Dave Herman’s ass with a broken rib? Or when he got piledriven by big, bad, 150-pound-weight-advantage Bob Sapp, only to submit him the second round? How bout his brawl with Randy Couture at UFC 102, a classic in the “Old Dudes Just Throwin’ Down” canon? That was 6 years ago, you guys! These are the kind of moments that will forever define the career of a man whose face belongs on the Mount Rushmore of MMA, or hell, just the regular old Mount Rushmore.
In a sport that has seen countless, redefining changes — from to the entrance of smaller and women’s weight classes to actual, corporate sponsorships — Antonio Nogueira has arguably been its greatest constant. But there’s no arguing that his best days as a fighter are behind him, which is why it’s great to hear that he’s retiring before anymore damage can be done. What left does he have to prove, after all?
I started fighting in 1999, and was at the top 3 of the division until 2008. It’s an entire life. I have constant pain, fought guys heavier than this 265 pounds limit today. I love the training routine but I have to be 100 percent to fight.
I’ve always had a passion to follow the development of new athletes and that’s what I intend to continue doing. I want to help further the spread of MMA around the world and give my contribution to the emergence and development of young talent. I appreciate all the confidence that Dana White, Lorenzo Fertitta and Frank Fertitta have in me, and I believe we will reach big results together. I know that I can, and will, contribute much to the growth of our sport outside of the Octagon.
It’s hard to imagine Big Nog being anything less than stellar in his new position, so pay your respects to the man’s epic career (and share your favorite Big Nog moments) in the comments section.
Summer is winding down, which means we’re in the latter stages of 2015. It also means football season is finally here. But do you know what else it means? There’s still a whole slew of mixed martial arts fights that we have to look forward to, so with that in mind, here are the top 10 fights that you, Potato Nation, should check out or – at the very least – set your DVR to as we wind down the year:
Summer is winding down, which means we’re in the latter stages of 2015. It also means football season is finally here. But do you know what else it means? There’s still a whole slew of mixed martial arts fights that we have to look forward to, so with that in mind, here are the top 10 fights that you, Potato Nation, should check out or – at the very least – set your DVR to as we wind down the year:
(Countdown to UFC 191: Andrei Arlovski vs Frank Mir, via the UFC.)
Both of these guys are in the midst of a career resurgence – and probably the second or third such resurgence for Mir. Both are also riding multiple-fight win streaks, and the winner of this fight has to be considered the top contender in UFC’s heavyweight division. But given what we’ve seen lately with title shots in the UFC, who knows?
(Highlights from Dantas vs. Galvao 1, via Bellator.)
Galvao memorably made Joe Warren scream in pain at Bellator 135 earlier this year, securing the bantamweight title in the process. Dantas succumbed to Warren in a previous title fight, but secured another shot after besting Mike Richman at Bellator 137. Oh yeah, Dantas also happens to hold a vicious knockout victory over, you guessed it, Marcos Galvao. Both of these guys can finish their opponent by either knockout or submission, so don’t expect this fight to go to a decision.
Freire has been a thorn in Straus’ side, already getting the better of him on two separate occasions. Besides his losses to Freire, Straus has been on an absolute tear in Bellator, winning all but one fight. Straus is chomping at the bit for redemption against Freire, and I expect this fight to be teeming with animosity and fireworks.
7. David Branch vs. Teddy Holder (World Series of Fighting 23 – Sept. 18)
(Holder vs. Thiago Silva, WSOF 19.)
Holder emphatically made his presence known in WSOF, stepping in as a last-minute replacement against Thiago Silva and needing all but two minutes to knockout Silva in both men’s organizational debut. Knocking out a dangerous (literally) fighter like Silva in two minutes? I’d say that warrants a title shot. Holder and Branch are squaring off for WSOF’s inaugual light heavyweight title, with Branch boasting an undefeated record in WSOF and getting the best of fighters like Paulo Filho and Yushin Okami. Both guys like to stand and bang, so I don’t think it’s a stretch to say this fight probably won’t go the distance.
Putting this fight here is more or less a sentimental pick, given the stature of the two guys involved. Hendo showed the world he’s not quite finished yet by brutally knocking out Tim Boetsch in the first round earlier this summer. Belfort was demolished by UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman in his last fight, but had a highlight-reel knockout of Hendo in their previous meeting. These guys are surefire hall of famers and at the latter end of their careers, so you want to catch them while you can. Especially when they’re facing each other.
5. Bellator: Dynamite (Sept. 19)
This is an entire card you should check out, not just one fight. Bellator is partnering with GLORY kickboxing to put on a joint card on the same night. The arena will house both the Bellator cage and GLORY’s kickboxing ring, right next to each other. Simply put, this is a combat sports fan’s wet dream. The Bellator portion of the card will feature a light heavyweight tournament with fighters like Phil Davis and Muhammad “King Mo” Lawal. Liam McGeary will defend his light heavyweight title against Tito Ortiz, and Bellator’s Paul Daley will actually compete in a GLORY kickboxing match against Fernando Gonzalez. If you love combat sports, you do not want to miss this event.
4. Justin Gaethje vs. Luis Palomino II (World Series of Fighting 23 – Sept. 18)
(Gaethje vs Palomino 1 highlights, via Youtube)
These two engaged in an absolute war earlier this year. They traded bomb after bomb after bomb and pummeled each other mercilessly. Gaethje scored a third-round TKO victory, but Palomino’s tremendous heart and aggression against Gaethje secured him another chance at the gold. Their first meeting has been one of the less-heralded fights of 2015. But after this sequel, both of these guys should be household names.
These two are probably the two best middleweight fighters in the world right now. They’ve been circling each other for a while now and after Weidman’s demolition of Belfort and Rockhold running through Lyoto Machida in their previous bouts, the time is now for Weidman and Rockhold to go toe-to-toe for UFC’s middleweight title. These guys are sharing the UFC 194 with Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor. While that fight will likely get the lion’s share of the promotion, Weidman/Rockhold has all the making of a classic. Neither man gives an inch and will bring everything they have to the table. This will be a terrific fight to watch.
It may have suffered a slight setback thanks to an unfortunate thumb injury, but simply put, if you like violence, you will enjoy this fight. Both Lawler and Condit enjoy rearranging their opponent’s faces – Lawler with Rory MacDonald, and Condit with Thiago Alves. Expect nothing less than a brutal, bloody, punishing affair with this one. There will be no strategy, no gameplan. If any fight encompasses the saying “Two men enter, one man leaves,” it’s this one. Just sit back, relax and enjoy violence in its purest form with this one.
(Aldo vs. McGregor promo, once again via BrattMamley)
The fight EVERYONE’S talked about. This was supposed to happen at UFC 189 in July, and even had a world tour to go with it. Unfortunately, Aldo had to pull out right before the fight with an injury. McGregor defeated Chad Mendes for the interim featherweight title, and will now face Aldo to determine UFC’s true featherweight champion. The hype surrounding this fight will be off the charts, and it will be almost a full calendar year before the anticipation for this fight really kicked into gear. Aldo and McGregor are the two best featherweights in the world. It is long past time for these two to square off, and it can’t come at a better time than just before the holidays. Merry Christmas to all of us.
Chris Huntemann writes about mixed martial arts in the state of Maryland. He also opines on various topics within UFC, Bellator and World Series of Fighting. Check out his blog, and follow him on Twitter: @mmamaryland.
Having just finished watching the first trailer for Burning Angel’s much talked-about Ronda Rousey porn parody, Ronda ArouseMe: Grounded and Pounded, I am irate, Nation. Not because it contains absolutely zero nudity, and not because of any personal bias I have against star Kleio Valentien since she slapped that restraining order on me, but because my long and detailed list of spot-on casting suggestions for the project was completely, inexplicably ignored.
It’s as if ArouseMe director Joanna Angel didn’t appreciate or even take notice of the countless hours I clearly spent researching and drafting up that list, requiring no less than three recuperative naps in the process. Did they think I was only after a few extra clicks on a once mid-tier MMA blog, and not auditioning for a position in the multi-billion dollar industry that is porn casting? This was supposed to be *my* moment, god dammit! This was my chance to be a somebody!! (*kicks can*)
All that said, I’m sure there are a handful of you who’d still like to see the trailer for Ronda ArouseMe regardless of the fact that it took a steaming dump on my dreams, so check it out after the jump.
Having just finished watching the first trailer for Burning Angel’s much talked-about Ronda Rousey porn parody, Ronda ArouseMe: Grounded and Pounded, I am irate, Nation. Not because it contains absolutely zero nudity, and not because of any personal bias I have against star Kleio Valentien since she slapped that restraining order on me, but because my long and detailed list of spot-on casting suggestions for the project was completely, inexplicably ignored.
It’s as if ArouseMe director Joanna Angel didn’t appreciate or even take notice of the countless hours I clearly spent researching and drafting up that list, requiring no less than three recuperative naps in the process. Did they think I was only after a few extra clicks on a once mid-tier MMA blog, and not auditioning for a position in the multi-billion dollar industry that is porn casting? This was supposed to be *my* moment, god dammit! This was my chance to be a somebody!! (*kicks can*)
All that said, I’m sure there are a handful of you who’d still like to see the trailer for Ronda ArouseMe regardless of the fact that it took a steaming dump on my dreams, so check it out after the jump.
What, no Bangya Right? No Huge-O Peen LeSwell? Is the Burning Angel Sports Network even a thing? I WANT JUSTICE!!
(Breathe, Jared. Do as Dr. Fontanelle said and just. breathe.)
In the interest of fairness, I will say the trailer did manage to get a couple chuckles out of me — that line about Vin Diesel, especially. The ringside announcing duo of Angel and Small Hands are truly the Pepper and Cotton (or at least the Pepperfield and Redwood) of the porn world. I also appreciate that the entirety of the film appears to have been shot in a dank, humid chop shop, which in today’s age of big-budget, CGI-ridden pornos, is truly a breath of fresh air. (Not literally, of course.)
Break out your credit cards and order your three day limited trials ASAP, Tater Nation, because Ronda ArouseMe: Grounded and Pounded premieres tonight on BurningAngel.com.
It may have taken two extra years, a failed drug test, and a series of tough, tough losses on both sides of the equation, but it looks like we will finally be seeing Junior Dos Santos and Alistair Overeem throw down after all.
It’s the most heated rivalry in the heavyweight division today, and on Saturday, Dec. 19, Junior Dos Santos and Alistair Overeem settle the score in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida.
In the FOX-televised card’s main event, Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone challenges for a UFC title for the first time when he battles lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos in a highly-anticipated rematch.
It may have taken two extra years, a failed drug test, and a series of tough, tough losses on both sides of the equation, but it looks like we will finally be seeing Junior Dos Santos and Alistair Overeem throw down after all.
It’s the most heated rivalry in the heavyweight division today, and on Saturday, Dec. 19, Junior Dos Santos and Alistair Overeem settle the score in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida.
In the FOX-televised card’s main event, Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone challenges for a UFC title for the first time when he battles lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos in a highly-anticipated rematch.
Dos Santos enters this bout having not fought since December of 2014, wherein he picked up a controversial decision over Stipe Miocic in at UFC on FOX 13. Overeem, on the other hand, is riding a two-fight win streak over Stefan Struve and Roy Nelson, the latter of whom he bested via unanimous decision at UFC 185.
This is a fight that we’ve been waiting on for years, and one so heated that it can even draw a good guy like dos Santos to trash-talk.
“I don’t choose opponents, but I’m not gonna lie — it will feel great to shut this guy up,” said dos Santos posted on his Instagram following the announcement. “USADA Let’s work. I hope he doesn’t fail the drug test this time.”
Yes, let us hope.
In other fight booking news, featherweight contenders Frankie Edgar and Chad Mendes are also set to do battle in the main event of TUF 22 Finale, which transpires just eight days prior to UFC on FOX 17 at a Las Vegas venue yet to be announced. Edgar has arguably looked better than ever since dropping to featherweight, collecting four straight wins over the likes of Urijah Faber, Cub Swanson, B.J. Penn and Charles Oliveira. Despite rallying for a title shot on social media lately, Edgar will instead face the last man to fight for the one true featherweight title, Mendes, who also happens to be on the heels of a TKO loss to Conor McGregor at UFC 189.
It would be hard not to see the winner of this headliner not receiving a(nother) shot at the Aldo-McGregor winner, especially considering that’s it’s been booked for the finale of the TUF season that McGregor will coach, but who knows? Maybe Aldo will pull out with injury again, and we’ll get McGregor vs. Faber vs. Edgar vs. Mendes in a fatal four, TLC match for the one true belt. Crazier things have happened, Nation.
On the heels of a technical draw with Khabib Nurmagomedov’s crew in the WSOF lobby, it appears that Nate Diaz is once again ready to do some fighting *inside* the octagon. You know, for money this time, because apparently the royalty checks he’s collecting for being the first guy to use the middle finger as a taunt aren’t quite cutting it.
A little over a year removed from his last actual in-ring confrontation (a one-sided decision loss to Rafael Dos Anjos at UFC on FOX 13), Diaz will return to the octagon at UFC on FOX 17 in December, facing rising contender turned recent robbery victim Michael Johnson.
On the heels of a technical draw with Khabib Nurmagomedov’s crew in the WSOF lobby, it appears that Nate Diaz is once again ready to do some fighting *inside* the octagon. You know, for money this time, because apparently the royalty checks he’s collecting for being the first guy to use the middle finger as a taunt aren’t quite cutting it.
A little over a year removed from his last actual in-ring confrontation (a one-sided decision loss to Rafael Dos Anjos at UFC on FOX 13), Diaz will return to the octagon at UFC on FOX 17 in December, facing rising contender turned recent robbery victim Michael Johnson.
Diaz was briefly linked to a welterweight bout with Matt Brown earlier this year, but the fight was scrapped when 209′s finest announced that the UFC had never actually contacted him about said fight. My guess is that his excuse went a little something like this…
Johnson, on the other hand, had put together a respectable four fight win streak dating back to 2013 — including wins over Joe Lauzon and Edson Barboza (among others) — and seemed all but destined for a title shot in 2016. That was until fate threw a wrench in his plans in the form of Beneil Dariush, or perhaps more appropriately, in the form of the MMA judges on hand at Fight Night 73 earlier this month, who inexplicably awarded Dariush with a split decision victory over Johnson despite “The Menace” all but completely dominating the fight.
So in one corner, you’ve got an eager, hungry competitor looking to get back on the path to a title shot, and in the other, you’ve got a street brawling Diaz bro who’s dropped 3 out of his past 4 and could not give less of a fuck about a title shot if it came rolled in a Zig Zag with a side of Funyuns. Anyone care to take a guess at how the betting lines will look for this one?
Also on tap for UFC on FOX 17 main card are a pair of middleweight matchups. First up, our boy Tamdan “The Barn Cat” McCrory makes his UFC return against TUF 18 alum turned BloodyElbow contributor Josh Samman. Although we may not endorse McCrory in any way, shape, or form, this is as good a time as any for the Great Site Wars to begin, so if anyone from BE is looking to throw down ipecac bets on this thing, you know where to find us.
Also set for UFC on FOX 17 will be a middleweight clash between the struggling CB Dollaway and the I-Thought-He-Was-Retiring-Oh-God-Why-Isn’t-He-Retiring Nate Marquardt. The TUF 7 runner up is currently on the heels of his first two-fight skid since 2011 (with losses to Lyoto Machida and Michael Bisping), but it was Marquardt’s last performance against that really left us wondering if we’d ever see him in the octagon again. If you recall, Marquardt’s corner threw in the towel in between the second and third round of his fight with Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 188 after Nate more or less admitted that he had had enough.
Perhaps Marquardt’s hoping to go out on a win, or at least a more convincing performance against Dollaway here? I can only hope so, because the last thing this sport needs is a legend of the game who has to be forced into retirement. (Looking at you, Big Nog. You break-a my heart against the Skyscraper.)
UFC on FOX 17 transpires on Dec. 19 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida.
