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UFC 137 Fight Card: Mitrione Seeks to Protect "Nuts and Berries" Against Kongo

Nick Diaz has become THE topic heading into UFC 137, but the heavyweight fight between Matt Mitrione and Cheick Kongo—which is now the card’s co-main event—is an extremely important fight as well.The fight may well have implications as to w…

The fight may well have implications as to who will be next in line at a No. 1 contender fight or even a title shot.

However, to Mitrione, it really doesn’t matter a whole lot. In fact, it doesn’t really matter at all.

“I don’t get paid to worry about that,” Mitrione said concerning his proximity to a title shot at the UFC 137 media call. “I don’t really care, to be honest. If I go out there and kick Cheick Kongo’s ass, then that’s a conversation that we’ll have.”

Mitrione may not be concerned about the belt, but he’s definitely concerned about what’s below it—his “nuts and berries.”

Kongo has a reputation for landing groin shots, and it’s a reputation that the former NFL star is certainly aware of and is (hopefully) prepared for.

The Illinois native doesn’t have any special technique for avoiding being hit below the belt; he just hopes his cup is “one that’s, hopefully, protecting.”

“As long as it covers my jewels, my nuts and berries, I’ll be alright.”

Nut shots aside, Mitrione still has reasons to be cautious when fighting Kongo.

The Frenchman recently increased his stock with an unbelievable comeback victory over Pat Barry that is widely considered to be the best comeback in MMA history (or the second best if you think the best was Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen).

Is this what has Mitrione concerned? Yes, but concerned is too strong a word; Mitrione is just aware.

“Cheick is resilient and he’s not gonna let the fight get stopped,” he said. “He’s got a ton of heart…If you get him in trouble, he’s too active and the [referee] won’t stop the fight because he’s so active.”

The fight between Mitrione and Kongo will be the co-main event of UFC 137 and will almost certainly be a fight of the night candidate due to each fighters striking-oriented style as well as Kongo’s apparent ability to knock people out when he’s seemingly unconscious.

Should Mitrione win, he’ll rise in the heavyweight rankings and will be labeled a contender, making his fight with Kongo one that should definitely be watched (even if you are squeamish regarding shots below the belt).

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

10 of the Strangest Fighting Styles Ever Seen in the UFC

There have been a plethora of fighters in the UFC, but some fighters have had fighting styles so unique that they will be remembered forever.Many of these bizarre styles came from the early days of the UFC in which the competitors represented only o…

There have been a plethora of fighters in the UFC, but some fighters have had fighting styles so unique that they will be remembered forever.

Many of these bizarre styles came from the early days of the UFC in which the competitors represented only one discipline. Such strange styles as Pencak Silat, Trap fighting and hand-to-hand in all their oddity were covered in a previous article on the subject.

However, what about after MMA fighters started to become well rounded, and singular, one-dimensional martial arts techniques began to disappear? Which fighters had the strangest styles, then?

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Why the UFC Will Conquer Each Major American Sports Organization

The UFC’s growth will inevitably lead it to eclipse the other major sports organizations.The company has been growing since 200, and it’s success doesn’t appear fleeting. All the UFC needs to do to hit the next level and truly be on par with the “big b…

The UFC’s growth will inevitably lead it to eclipse the other major sports organizations.

The company has been growing since 200, and it’s success doesn’t appear fleeting. All the UFC needs to do to hit the next level and truly be on par with the “big boys” is to have a successful showing on the FOX network in November.

“Big deal! The other sports have been mainstream and on major networks for a long time,” one might say. This is a myopic statement.

The truth is that the UFC, due to its unique structure (that is to say, being controlled by three superlatively dedicated men in the Fertita brothers and Dana White) is immune to many of the issues that are currently plaguing the other sports.

So how will this impact the future growth of the UFC and the UFC’s ascent over the other leagues? Read and find out!

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UFC Veteran Tank Abbott’s Best Moments in Mixed Martial Arts

Despite a less-than-stellar 10-14 record in MMA, UFC veteran David “Tank” Abbott actually has quite a few moments in the sport that set him far apart from other below .500 fighters.Abbott is a legend in the sport, and his “unique” actions deserve to be…

Despite a less-than-stellar 10-14 record in MMA, UFC veteran David “Tank” Abbott actually has quite a few moments in the sport that set him far apart from other below .500 fighters.

Abbott is a legend in the sport, and his “unique” actions deserve to be remembered since they were a sign of the times for MMA. Abbott’s crass attitude and bar fighting experience typified the image of MMA in the early 90s.

His legacy is even more important now because Abbott is currently set to rematch one of his greatest foes, Scott Ferrozzo, in what may be the original Huntington Beach bad boy’s last fight.

So what are the Tank’s greatest moments? Read and find out!

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MMA: Brother of Strikeforce Fighter Gets Arrested for Being a Superhero

Ben Fodor, brother of Strikeforce fighter Caros Fodor, has been arrested for masquerading around the streets of Seattle as a superhero known as “Phoenix Jones,” according to BJPenn.com.The vigilante attempted to break up a street brawl (although the al…

Ben Fodor, brother of Strikeforce fighter Caros Fodor, has been arrested for masquerading around the streets of Seattle as a superhero known as “Phoenix Jones,” according to BJPenn.com.

The vigilante attempted to break up a street brawl (although the alleged perpetrators claim they were just dancing) in order to bring peace and justice to the streets of Gotham—err, Seattle.

Not only does Fodor dress up in a mask and black muscle body suit with yellow stripes, he also carries around mace to supplement his mixed martial arts abilities; simple fighting techniques alone won’t be able to subdue all criminals, after all.

Does it get any stranger?

Yes. It does. Phoenix Jones apparently has another superhero ally—a “sidekick,” if you will (and no that’s not an attempt at a horrible MMA-related pun)—known only as “Ghost” who accompanied the hero on his quest to root out violence.

The trend of MMA fighters acting heroic is nothing new. After all, UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones apprehended a robber the same day he won his title and UFC heavyweight veteran Antoni Hardonk foiled an armed robbery in Los Angeles. Also, the topic of UFC fighters becoming modern day superheroes in more ways than one has been discussed before.

So does the trend have a future? Can we expect a Kick Ass-esque uprising of ad hoc MMA fighting superheroes?

No, Phoenix Jones was promptly reprimanded for his behavior. The last thing the world needs is MMA fighters with messianic convictions that they’re here to save us.

However, maybe that’s just a cynical outlook. Maybe Phoenix Jones is the hero that Seattle deserves…just not the one they need right now.

Either way, it’s certainly fun to watch him mace people.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 136 Results: Chael Sonnen and Nick Diaz: 10 of the Best Trash Talk Moments

Chael Sonnen and Nick Diaz are two of the best and most prolific trash talkers in the sport of mixed martial arts and even in the sports world in general.Together, they have produced dozens upon dozens of sound bytes that entertained MMA fans and, more…

Chael Sonnen and Nick Diaz are two of the best and most prolific trash talkers in the sport of mixed martial arts and even in the sports world in general.

Together, they have produced dozens upon dozens of sound bytes that entertained MMA fans and, more importantly, captured their pay-per-view and ticket buys.

What are some of the best of these trash talking moments? Read and find out!

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