Author: McKinley Noble

Overeem: Bigfoot Silva Is ‘Stupid’ for Leaving Blackzilians, Cain Will Beat JDS

Even though Alistair Overeem wants to fight Junior dos Santos as soon as possible, the international heavyweight star expects Cain Velasquez to spoil the party.As the Dutchman discussed in a recent interview with the Las Vegas Sun, he doesn’t expect th…

Even though Alistair Overeem wants to fight Junior dos Santos as soon as possible, the international heavyweight star expects Cain Velasquez to spoil the party.

As the Dutchman discussed in a recent interview with the Las Vegas Sun, he doesn’t expect that he’ll get to face “Cigano” for the UFC heavyweight title any time soon. In his mind, that’s due in part to JDS flip-flopping on the once-planned matchup, along with Velasquez’s superior wrestling:

“I want dos Santos to win so I can beat him, but I think Cain is going to take care of him for me, unfortunately.” Overeem said. “Junior is going to get taken down. He’s going to get ground-and-pounded.

“[Junior’s] been doing the zig-zag. He wants to fight me then he doesn’t, so then he fights Cain. I think he’s going to have his hands full with Cain. He’s going to lose.”

However, it takes two men to make a fight, and Overeem was already slated to challenge JDS for the UFC Heavyweight Champion on May 26, 2012 at UFC 146. Those plans were scrapped once Overeem turned a positive drug test for abnormally high levels of testosterone, leading to a nine-month suspension.

Despite being out of action for so long, Overeem has been doing steady media tours in preparation for his return at UFC 156 against Antonio Silva.

Notably, the Dutchman also joined the “Blackzilians” supercamp last February, which led to Silva’s recent departure from the highly publicized group. As Overeem opines, it was ultimately an unwise move by the Brazilian heavyweight:

I think it was the stupidest thing on his part. This is a really good team with a really strong manager backing it and a lot of good people. I just don’t think it was a clever thing to do. I don’t even know where he’s training now.

Regardless of the inner-camp drama, both men will cross paths again at UFC 156 as part of the main card in Las Vegas this coming February. Overeem heads into the bout on a 12-fight undefeated streak, dating all the way back to a November 2007 victory over Paul Buentello for the inaugural Strikeforce Heavyweight Championship.

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Rumor: Georges St-Pierre Wants $50 Million for Anderson Silva Superfight

UFC champion Georges St-Pierre wants “Anderson Silva money” for a superfight with Brazil’s middleweight titan.Recently, the welterweight kingpin has drawn some media scrutiny for agreeing with claims from hosts on Radio-Canada’s “Tout Le&nbsp…

UFC champion Georges St-Pierre wants “Anderson Silva money” for a superfight with Brazil’s middleweight titan.

Recently, the welterweight kingpin has drawn some media scrutiny for agreeing with claims from hosts on Radio-Canada’s “Tout Le Monde en Parle” that he makes roughly $15 million a year in fight purses and sponsorships.

But according to MMA journalist Mike Straka, GSP wants to make over three years’ worth of his income for fighting Silva, quoting an estimate of $50 million during The MMA Beat (segment at 3:30):

I was told by somebody very close to Georges that Georges today makes close to eight million dollars a fight. So, to fight Anderson Silva, he’s going to ask for 50 million dollars. Five-zero. Because he said that Georges has 10 fights left in his career at eight million a fight.

But he believes that Anderson could actually hurt him, could physically hurt him and end his career. So, to take that chance, he wants $50 million, and that’s exactly the number he’s going to go to Dana White with.

UFC president Dana White has been campaigning heavily for a superfight between the sport’s top two pound-for-pound fighters, hinting that the potential matchup would be a lock if GSP defeated former interim champion Carlos Condit at UFC 154.

However, the biggest problem regarding the bout is an agreed-upon weight limit.

GSP’s head trainer, Firas Zahabi, has stated that anything above 170 pounds—GSP’s natural fighting weight—would be unfair. He also suggested that Silva should be “weakened” to compensate for the difference in size.

Silva’s conditioning coach responded in kind to Fighters Only Magazine, stating that while Silva could possibly make the cut down to 170 pounds, the massive physical drain on the UFC middleweight champion would be a crime.

Moreover, both fighters’ camps have been unwilling to compromise on any sort of catchweight limit. Regardless of the breakdown in negotiations, early betting odds had previously listed Silva has a slight favorite over St-Pierre, making the Canadian star a rare underdog.

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UFC on Fox 5: Five Key Facts About Ben Henderson vs. Nate Diaz

Even without looking at the raw numbers, it’s pretty clear that Benson Henderson and Nate Diaz are two of the UFC’s most amazing fighters.Both of these lightweight warriors have played parts in some of the most entertaining fights in modern mixed marti…

Even without looking at the raw numbers, it’s pretty clear that Benson Henderson and Nate Diaz are two of the UFC’s most amazing fighters.

Both of these lightweight warriors have played parts in some of the most entertaining fights in modern mixed martial arts history, and next Saturday, they’ll get the opportunity to amaze millions of MMA fans during UFC on Fox 5.

But what separates these two from the rest of their division?

Well, that’s why the raw numbers are important. Here’s five key facts that hardcore and casual fight fans alike should know about these two headliners—and what those statistics actually mean.

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Michael Bisping Says He’s the Unofficial Strikeforce Middleweight Champ

Middleweight title contender Michael Bisping isn’t impressed with Luke Rockhold.In fact, “The Count” claims that he outclasses the injured Strikeforce champion so thoroughly that he should technically be the one wearing Rockhold’s title belt.However, B…

Middleweight title contender Michael Bisping isn’t impressed with Luke Rockhold.

In fact, “The Count” claims that he outclasses the injured Strikeforce champion so thoroughly that he should technically be the one wearing Rockhold’s title belt.

However, Bisping doesn’t deny that Rockhold should get the call-up to the UFC when Strikeforce officially shuts down after January.

During an interview on SPIKE’s MMA Uncensored Live (via MMA Mania), Bisping alluded to the gap in skill between himself and Rockhold, recalling a previous training session between them:

Luke Rockhold? By all accounts he and Lorenz Larkin should fight and the winner of that fight—if not both of them—[should] go over to the UFC. Are they gonna come over and be number one contenders? I don’t think so. You’re in Strikeforce, come over to the UFC and earn your place. Let me put it like this: I’ve sparred with Luke Rockhold recently and let’s just say I’m the unofficial Strikeforce champion. Sorry Luke, but these are the facts.

Bisping and Rockhold are both considered two of the middleweight division’s best fighters by several MMA publications, including Bleacher Report’s own November 2012 rankings.

Bisping has been chasing a title shot for much of his UFC career, building up a 13-4 record in the promotion with three Fight of the Night awards.

The Englishman is 5-1 in his last six bouts, with his lone loss coming at the hands of Chael Sonnen. 

On January 19, 2013, Bisping is scheduled to face former UFC champion Vitor Belfort in the main event of UFC on FX 7 in Sao Paulo, Brazil for a title eliminator.

Rockhold was scheduled to take part in the final Strikeforce card with a title defense against Lorenz Larkin, but pulled out of the fight due to a wrist injury. Larkin has since called out Rockhold for dropping the fight, claiming that the champion doesn’t want to risk a loss, and by proxy, a spot in the UFC.

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UFC’s Vinny Magalhaes Calls Out Matt Hamill on Twitter, Deletes Tweet

Grappling ace Vinny Magalhaes wants Matt Hamill at UFC 157 or UFC on Fuel TV 8—but it looks like he’s thinking twice about calling out “The Hammer” on Twitter.According to a message that was deleted from Magalhaes’s Twitter feed ye…

Grappling ace Vinny Magalhaes wants Matt Hamill at UFC 157 or UFC on Fuel TV 8—but it looks like he’s thinking twice about calling out “The Hammer” on Twitter.

According to a message that was deleted from Magalhaes’s Twitter feed yesterday, the two fighters are headed towards an upcoming match next year. However, it appears that Hamill hasn’t yet signed a contract agreement, which prompted Magalhaes to call out his intended foe.

Although the tweet is now gone, it was quickly re-tweeted by a few followers, including MiddleEasy:

 

Magalhaes and Hamill were both out of the UFC looking in for different reasons, but have returned to the promotion with wins in their “comeback” fights.

After suffering back-to-back losses against Ryan Bader and Eliot Marshall, Magalhaes was cut from the UFC and left to build experience in the regional circuit. “Pezao” quickly gained a 7-1 record in the next two years, capping off his stint on a public feud with Russian promotion M-1 Global.

Notably, Magalhaes left M-1 Global as its sitting light heavyweight champion, but put the belt on sale at eBay after claiming disrespect from his Russian employers.

Hamill, the UFC’s only deaf fighter, recently rejoined the promotion after a brief “retirement” period brought on by back-to-back losses against Quinton Jackson and Alexander Gustafsson. In his first fight back, Hamill won a decision against Canadian light heavyweight Roger Hollett at UFC 152 in Toronto, Canada.

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Mike Dolce: Nick Diaz Isn’t No. 1 Contender, GSP Is Ducking Johny Hendricks

In the non-negotiations for a possible Georges St-Pierre vs. Anderson Silva superfight, No. 1 welterweight contender Johny Hendricks is the odd man out.Despite a 9-1 UFC record with wins over the division’s best 170-pound fighters, Hendricks isn’t cons…

In the non-negotiations for a possible Georges St-Pierre vs. Anderson Silva superfight, No. 1 welterweight contender Johny Hendricks is the odd man out.

Despite a 9-1 UFC record with wins over the division’s best 170-pound fighters, Hendricks isn’t considered the next in line to challenge for GSP‘s title. At least, not if you ask the champion’s training staff.

According to Firas Zahabi, St-Pierre’s head trainer, former Strikeforce champion Nick Diaz is the one who deserves the next shot at the UFC welterweight championship belt due to having “more fights” and “bigger wins” in his career.

Famed MMA nutritionist Mike Dolce, who worked with Hendricks for his UFC 154 match this month, doesn’t agree with Zahabi at all. During an interview with MMA Junkie, he heavily criticized the notion that Diaz deserved a title shot over Hendricks:

Nick hasn’t beaten anybody substantial in the welterweight division to earn that shot. Nick certainly will be in line soon. He’s got to get a couple of wins. Johny’s got those wins already.

I’m looking at Nick’s record right now. He beat K.J. Noons, a 155-pounder; Evangelista ‘Cyborg’ (Santos), and who is he? Then Paul Daley—all right, Paul Daley’s tough. Then B.J. Penn, a very uninspired B.J. Penn, who’s a lightweight. He beat two lightweights, one very fringe welterweight, and Paul Daley.

Dolce further claimed that Hendricks posed a much bigger threat to GSP than anyone else in the division, pointing out the fighter’s wins over Josh Koscheck, Mike Pierce, Jon Fitch, and most recently, a stunning first-round knockout win over the iron-jawed Martin Kampmann.

Additionally, Dolce suggested that GSP‘s camp is more fearful of Hendricks than Diaz and that Zahabi‘s claim was made not for the bigger PPV draw, but the safer fight:

He’ll make a little bit more money if he fights Nick Diaz – but he’s not going to make a lot more money if he fights Nick Diaz. He will make a lot more money if he fights Anderson Silva. So it’s not about the money. It’s about protecting his belt. He thinks he can beat Nick Diaz – they don’t think they can beat Johny Hendricks. And I agree.

Dolce has worked with many UFC fighters over the years, using his patented “Dolce Diet” to help several athletes cut large amounts of weight before bouts. Prior to UFC 154, Dolce claimed that Hendricks cut a whopping 41 pounds before hitting the scales, which marked his third time working with the “Team Takedown” star.

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