Chael Sonnen has retired from competitive mixed martial arts, per Fox Sports:
As Fox Sports’ Marc Raimondi reported, Sonnen’s retirement comes fresh of the heels of his positive test for banned substances:
Chael Sonnen’s recent failed drug test hasn’…
Chael Sonnen has retired from competitive mixed martial arts, per Fox Sports:
As Fox Sports’ Marc Raimondi reported, Sonnen’s retirement comes fresh of the heels of his positive test for banned substances:
Chael Sonnen’s recent failed drug test hasn’t just led to him being pulled from UFC 175. It will also mark the end of his MMA career.
Sonnen announced his retirement from competition Wednesday on UFC Tonight, one day after news came out that he had tested positive for banned substances and would likely not be able to fight Vitor Belfort on July 6 in Las Vegas. Sonnen has competed in MMA for 17 years, including the last five with the UFC.
On Fox Sports 1’s America’s Pregame, Sonnen offered a defense of his failed test.
With his opponent off the card, Belfort has nobody to fight, so he will also miss out as well, per Yahoo Sports’ Kevin Iole:
Sonnen’s fight at UFC 175 likely would have been one of his last in the company anyway. At 37 years old and having lost three of his last four fights, the end was near. The failed drug test merely sped up the inevitable.
Sonnen retires with a 28-14 professional career record, according to Sherdog. Although he never won a title, he was never far from the middleweight and light heavyweight championship pictures.
While Sonnen had an impressive UFC career, most fans will remember him for his bombastic and polarizing personality. His bouts with Jon Jones and Anderson Silva are particularly memorable for the way in which he cut pro wrestling-type promos in order to hype the fight.
Back in April 2013, Deadspin’s Tim Marchman went in depth detailing many of the ways Sonnen tried to get under Jones’ and Silva’s skin. As a result, many fans and critics have less-than-flattering opinions of the fighter, as demonstrated by some harsh words from Sports On Earth’s Tomas Rios:
Whatever your opinion of Sonnen, there’s no question that UFC watched one of its biggest stars leave the company on Wednesday. He may not have been the most talented fighter, but his charisma ensured that he remained near the top of most of the cards on which he was featured.
Now the question is, who will fill Sonnen’s boots as the most loved/hated fighter in UFC?
Is Glover Teixeira the one?
Jon Jones hasn’t lost a fight in a little over four years, and even that was the result of a disqualification rather than an outright defeat. Now, the 34-year-old Brazilian has the chance to do what the best light heavyweigh…
Is Glover Teixeira the one?
Jon Jones hasn’t lost a fight in a little over four years, and even that was the result of a disqualification rather than an outright defeat. Now, the 34-year-old Brazilian has the chance to do what the best light heavyweight fighters in the world haven’t done: beat Jones.
That fight is the main event of what promises to be an eventful UFC 172. Some of the company’s more recent pay-per-views have been a little underwhelming, so it’s important that Saturday night’s event delivers.
Looking at the entire card, these four matches should provide the most excitement.
Joseph Benavidez vs. Tim Elliott
This is a fight that could easily be featured on the PPV. Joseph Benavidez has run through just about every top fighter in the flyweight division not named Demetrious Johnson, while Tim Elliott is in need of a high-profile victory after his loss to Ali Bagautinov back in Nov. 2013.
Elliott has such an unorthodox, unpredictable style that he may be able to spring the upset. Benavidez will no doubt have a hard time devising a game plan because it can be quickly rendered useless.
The key will be whether Benavidez gets an opening on the inside. Although six of his wins have come via knockout, Benavidez will no doubt look for his patented guillotine choke to end the fight.
Prediction: Benavidez via submission in Round 2
Luke Rockhold vs. Tim Boetsch
This is what you always want to read before a fight, per FoxSports.com’s Marc Raimondi:
Luke Rockhold got a nice bounce-back win against CostasPhilippou in January, but he could still use another statement victory to make everyone forget about that defeat to VitorBelfort in his UFC debut.
While Tim Boetsch isn’t an elite contender in the middleweight division, he’s tough as nails and has enough power to end the fight if Rockhold gives him the chance.
The problem for Boetsch is that Rockhold‘s wise enough to keep his distance, and more importantly, talented enough to stay away and still earn enough points to win the judges’ scorecards. Rockhold will scientifically take Boetsch apart and coast to victory.
“I like Phil and I don’t want to throw Phil under the bus, but Phil needs to get over that mental hump,” White said. I’ve got guys breathing down my neck for fights, like, ‘I want this fight. I want that fight.’ Phil Davis is like, ‘Eh. I’ll hang out around No. 4 here.’ He’s not that guy that comes across to me like, ‘I f—ing want it. I want to be the best in the world.'”
Davis responded in kind:
I try to let my fighting do the talking, but I’m going to have to let my talking do the talking for a little bit. If you want Phil Davis calling and your texting your phone every day, telling you he wants to fight Jon Jones, that’s fine. I thought that just winning would get that done, but that’s not necessarily true.
With Davis this motivated, he should come out and attack Anthony Johnson right from the opening bell. “Mr. Wonderful” won’t be too reckless, but he’ll stamp his authority in Rounds 1 and 2 before going in for the kill in the third.
One thing even White can recognize is Davis’ ability to control a fight and devise a game plan.
If Mr. Wonderful wants a title shot against Jones, he’ll need an emphatic victory over Johnson, and he knows it.
Prediction: Davis by submission in Round 3
Jon Jones vs. Glover Teixeira
How can you possibly bet against the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world and one of the best fighters of his generation?
Jones has shown no signs of slowing down, and Teixeira is too much of an unknown quantity to see how he wins this fight.
The Brazilian is no slouch, having won his last 20 fights—a fact not lost on Jones, per UFC on Fox:
Teixeira has a ton of power, and if Jones isn’t careful, he could find himself on his back. The challenger has no doubts about his ability to take the champion down with a few big blows, per UFC Tonight:
Looking at Teixeira’s resume, he’s never fought anyone close to the ability of Jones, and therein lies his biggest problem. What’s worked for him in the past likely won’t work on Jones. Nothing has fully prepared him for what he’s about to face on Saturday.
“Bones” knows that if he stays on the outside and out of the reach of Teixeira, the fight is all his. He’ll let Teixeira tire out as the fight goes on and end the proceedings in the third.
Make it two-for-two for Quinton “Rampage” Jackson in Bellator, as he knocked out Christian M’Pumbu in the first round at Bellator 110 Friday night at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., to advance to the final of the light heavyweight tour…
Make it two-for-two for Quinton “Rampage” Jackson in Bellator, as he knocked out Christian M’Pumbu in the first round at Bellator 110 Friday night at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., to advance to the final of the light heavyweight tournament.
The knockout seemingly came out of nowhere. For most of the first round, the two fighters were feeling each other out. They weren’t going in much and keeping some distance.
Then M’Pumbu slipped, allowing Rampage to go in for the kill. He connected with some short right-hand punches, knocking out the 36-year-old four minutes and 34 seconds into the fight, per ESPN.com’s Brett Okamoto:
It’s the first time M’Pumbu has been knocked out in his professional career, per Fox Sports’ Mike Chiappetta:
M’Pumbu was less than enthused at referee John McCarthy’s decision. He immediately got up to protest.
Looking at the replays, though, you could see that he was knocked out for at least a few seconds. The referee had no other choice but to call it right then and there. You can’t let things go and allow a fighter to take free head shots.
As M’Pumbu was being attended to, Rampage took the opportunity to get in his face a little bit:
Coming into the fight, some fans were wondering if Jackson was past it. Although he got the victory, it wasn’t the kind of decisive knockout that makes you believe he’s got a ton left in the tank. M’Pumbu was able to recover somewhat quickly and regain his bearings.
In addition, Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Snowden wasn’t impressed by the look of Rampage:
Rampage, though, isn’t doubting his ability, per Sherdog’s Brian Knapp:
“These guys think I’m finished? They think they’re going to retire me? I take that personal,” Jackson said. “Bellator, you don’t know what you’re messing with. I’m a monster. Anybody who steps into this cage [with me] is going to sleep.”
Jackson will face MuhammedLawal in the final. King Mo earned a unanimous decision victory over Mikhail Zayats earlier in the night. Matt Erickson of MMAjunkie surmised that the fight will be on May 17:
The two wasted little time creating drama, as they faced off in the cage after Jackson’s win, with King Mo having to be held back. Some, such as Snowden and B/R’s Jeremy Botter, were questioning how real the situation was:
It will be interesting to see how this situation plays out, as King Mo didn’t dazzle the fans with his win and with the questions about Rampage’s ability. Bellator may have a lot of work to do in order to get the fans into this bout.
The weigh-in for Frank Mir and Alistair Overeem went off without a hitch, as both fighters came in under the 265-pound weight limit. The two will meet on Saturday night in Newark, N.J., at UFC 169.
Mir came in at 256.5 pounds, while Overeem was a half-…
The weigh-in for Frank Mir and Alistair Overeem went off without a hitch, as both fighters came in under the 265-pound weight limit. The two will meet on Saturday night in Newark, N.J., at UFC 169.
Mir came in at 256.5 pounds, while Overeem was a half-pound heavier (257 lbs) per Bleacher Report MMA:
The two had the requisite staredown, per UFC on Fox:
You can see video of the full weigh-in below.
Although this fight is a bit down on the card, it is one of the more intriguing of the night—both fighters enter UFC 169 badly needing a win.
Frank Mir’s stock has taken a nosedive since getting knocked out by Junior dos Santos at UFC 146. Following that defeat, he lost to Daniel Cormier and then Josh Barnett.
The knock against the 34-year-old has always been that he could win big fights, but he couldn’t win the biggest ones. Whether it was the loss to dos Santos, or coming up short in title fights against Shane Carwin or Brock Lesnar, Mir has been stuck in his own kind of purgatory.
Now, however, he seems to have descended into the inferno.
Should he lose four fights in a row, UFC may decide that enough is enough and drop Mir from the roster. He’s not going away under his own volition, telling Brett Okamoto of ESPN.com:
I kind of know [that] no matter what it’s not going to be my last fight. I’m still younger than a lot of the guys in the division.
There are two ways I would consider retirement. One is losing to guys who are not top-level competition. The other is if I started losing where it’s like, ‘OK man, you were knocked out viciously and staring at the rafters.’ I won’t endanger my health.
It’s unlikely that beating Overeem would put Mir back on a path leading to a title shot, but it could help prolong his career in the Octagon.
On the other side, Overeem is looking to get his UFC career back on track and possibly get back near the top of the heavyweight rankings.
He came into UFC with a ton of hype and demonstrated exactly why when he pummeled Lesnar into retirement at UFC 141.
After that win, though, it’s been all downhill for Overeem. One drug suspension and two losses later, the 33-year-old has become a bit of an afterthought in the division. In addition, speculation over his possible performance-enhancing drug use will dog him the rest of his career.
Mike Bohn of MMAJunkie.com reported that Overeem made a concerted effort to change his training in order to drop weight. Overeem said to Bohn:
I actually dropped some weight. I wanted improved cardio, so obviously you want to lose some weight. That actually goes automatic. A lot more cardio and you automatically lose a lot of weight. We just wanted [my cardio] to be better.
Beating Mir would at least help to shift some of the focus back on his in-ring work.
Plus, there’s still some time for Overeem to earn a heavyweight title shot. He’s got loads of talent, and if he can show that he’s no longer made of glass, one or two more wins could see him take on dos Santos or whomever is the heavyweight champion.
This should be an entertaining fight. Although Overeem has the physical advantage and is the betting favorite, should Mir tag the “Demolition Man” early, he could pull off the upset.
Whatever happens will likely have significant ramifications for both fighters’ careers.
The UFC is starting off 2014 with a bang, as UFC 169 features two fighters who are among the best ever in their respective weight divisions.
Renan Barao could go down as the best bantamweight ever, and beating Urijah Faber would do nothing to hurt that…
The UFC is starting off 2014 with a bang, as UFC 169 features two fighters who are among the best ever in their respective weight divisions.
RenanBarao could go down as the best bantamweight ever, and beating Urijah Faber would do nothing to hurt that cause. Meanwhile, Jose Aldo has already made his case as the greatest featherweight in MMA history.
Saturday’s pay-per-view will be a great showcase for two men at the top of their game.
But it’s not all about those two.
Throughout the main card, plenty of fighters will try to use UFC 169 to kick-start their careers again and try to make the climb back up the rankings. For some, this event could be the end of the line. For others, it represents the jumping-off point for greater things to come.
The three fighters listed below are heading into UFC 169 most in need of a win.
Remember when Alistair Overeem was riding high after that TKO of Brock Lesnar? It feels like a lifetime ago.
One failed drug test and two losses later, Overeem’s stock has fallen precipitously. He’s gone from a top contender in the heavyweight division to an afterthought whose UFC career is hanging in the balance.
Bleacher Report’s Chad Dundas made the stakes clear for both Overeem and Frank Mir at the PPV:
Despite the fact the UFC hasn’t been quite so quick to send fighters packing recently—lest it gets a sliver of Viacom’s $4 billion in cash!—this is still a must-win fight for both Mir and Overeem. Even if it doesn’t result in a dismissal, a loss here probably dooms either man’s chance of once again ascending into the heavyweight elite.
Of course, Mir needs a win as well, but it’s Overeem who arguably has the higher ceiling from here on out. Mir had his time in the spotlight, and it appears he’s now slowing down.
With a win, the Demolition Man can climb his way back up the heavyweight ladder—as long as he can stay clean.
Jamie Varner
Jamie Varner enters UFC 169 having lost two of his last three fights. His chance of ever competing for the lightweight title has probably already gone out the window. He’s basically a journeyman.
But there is still much at stake for Varner.
Speaking with MMAJunkie.com Radio, per MMAJunkie.com‘s Steven Marrocco, Varner said he’s planning on retiring at 32, which would be three years from now:
I only got one fight in 2013, and I see my window closing as far as being an athlete and competing at this high level. … I’ve been fighting as a professional since I was 18; I’ve got 11 years in the sport.
I started at the UFC in 2006, so that’s a long time, man. Plus, I started boxing when I was 11 years old and wrestling when I was 14. It’s a long time to be taking beatings. I want to make the most of it. I want to get three or four fights this year and three or four next year, and I’m going to retire when I’m 32.
Between now and then, Varner could get a couple of PPV fights and add a little more to his bank account.
Beating somebody like Abel Trujillo wouldn’t make Varner a top contender overnight, but it would help get him turned around in the right direction again. Maybe he could string a few more wins together and go out on a high note.
Ali Bagautinov
Ali Bagautinov is unbeaten in his two UFC fights, knocking out Marcos Vinicius in his debut and following that up with a unanimous-decision victory over Timothy Elliott.
Now, the 28-year-old has another top flyweight opponent in John Lineker.
Bagautinov’s two wins in UFC are impressive, but they’re merely the starting point when it comes to getting to the top of the flyweight rankings. He needs to beat more top competition to get a match against Demetrious Johnson or whomever the flyweight champion is at the time.
According to Marc Raimondi of FoxSports.com, Dana White intimated that this could be a fight to determine the No. 1 contender:
Should Bagautinov win, you have to believe he would be one more fight away, at most, from getting a title shot.
You can already picture Randy Marsh quickly rolling down his car window to admonish the public for not listening. UFC fans should heed warning to what Georges-St Pierre has to say about the promotion.
GSP made major waves this week when he revealed tha…
You can already picture Randy Marsh quickly rolling down his car window to admonish the public for not listening. UFC fans should heed warning to what Georges-St Pierre has to say about the promotion.
GSP made major waves this week when he revealed that the idea of stricter drug testing ended up causing a rift between he and UFC, per Brett Okamoto of ESPN.com:
“It bothered me greatly,” St-Pierre said, according to the Canadian Press. “It was one of the reasons I decided to step aside.
“I tried to change things and unfortunately — maybe for money reasons, maybe for image — they were not ready to do that. I tried in a very diplomatic way and it didn’t work, so it’s unfortunate, but I believe it will happen sooner or later.”
There are two things surprising about this.
One is that a fighter is pushing for more stringent procedures, only to be rebuked by a promotion. It’s usually the other way around.
Two is that the fighter bringing this whole issue up is St-Pierre. GSP is famous for saying almost nothing of value in interviews, yet here he is dropping a major bombshell about UFC.
The fact that he feels compelled to say this doesn’t look good for business, and it begs the question as to whether more fighters privately hold this belief but are too afraid to make it public.
Not too many others are in the position that GSP is. He doesn’t have anything to lose. His career could be over already, and he’s made more than enough money to live comfortably for the rest of his life. That enables him to lay into UFC without too many serious consequences.
As you’d expect, UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta had a swift response to St-Pierre, per Okamoto:
“We’ve made it clear, through presentations at various athletic commissions, that we advocate for the most rigorous drug testing possible,” Fertitta said. “We’ve actually advocated for harsher penalties for PEDs.
“Maybe Georges didn’t understand the level of drug testing Nevada was doing. They are the ultimate authority that handles drug testing, medicals and everything else — and they are very capable.”
Dana White was less diplomatic when he spoke about the issue on Fox Sports Live after UFC Fight Night 35.
(Note: Skip ahead to about the 6:14 mark for the start of the GSP discussion.)
So now we have a higher-up in UFC, albeit the volatile White, publicly questioning the manhood of one of the company’s biggest and most profitable stars. White also danced around the issue that St-Pierre brought to light.
His basic premise was since boxers can’t agree on third-party testing, nobody can, as if boxing is the standard-bearer for any sort of ethical conundrums.
This comes after the UFC president completely threw GSPunder the bus following UFC 167. He displayed a callous disregard for his fighter’s health, attempting to publicly guilt him back into the Octagon, as if said fighter hasn’t already done enough for the promotion.
It is eerily similar to the scene in Major League Baseball before all of the information about steroid use came out. When Jose Canseco came out with Juiced, he was dismissed as a nut job trying to get a few extra bucks by making outlandish accusations.
Nobody wanted to ask whether performance-enhancing drug use was rampant in MLB, so rather than talking about the message, they killed the messenger.
For fighters, this is all upsetting because UFC—in the form of White—is doing its best to try and tear down one of its most legendary fighters. And if that fighter wants to take time off to physically recover? That’s too bad because he owes it to everyone else to keep going.
For fans, the talk about drug testing may be less of an issue than how UFC is handling its fighters.
WWE is often criticized for its treatment of wrestlers. Bret Hart famously said in the documentary Hitman Hart: Wrestling with Shadows that pro wrestlers are like circus animals, and when they’ve exhausted their ability to earn money for the promotion, Vince McMahon takes them out back and puts them down.
White has used a lot of WWE‘s tactics to help build UFC into a major brand, but in this regard, he’d be smart to diverge from the path blazed by McMahon.
Both he and UFC have some soul-searching to do. Either they can take St-Pierre’s critiques seriously and see if there’s a problem in the company, or they can continue disparaging GSP while diverting from the true issue.
Chael Sonnen has retired from competitive mixed martial arts, per Fox Sports: