Author: Michael David Smith

Dream 16: Omigawa, Takaya, Hansen Impress in Featherweight Bouts

Filed under: DREAMThe best featherweights fighting in Japanese MMA these days are Dream champion Bibiano Fernandes and Sengoku champion Marlon Sandro. But many of the best of the rest were in the ring Saturday at Dream 16, a fight card that featured fi…

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The best featherweights fighting in Japanese MMA these days are Dream champion Bibiano Fernandes and Sengoku champion Marlon Sandro. But many of the best of the rest were in the ring Saturday at Dream 16, a fight card that featured five featherweight bouts.

Of the 10 featherweight fighters in action, the best of the bunch was Michihiro Omigawa, who beat the American Cole Escovedo with a straight arm bar two and a half minutes into the first round. The submission appeared to break Escovedo’s arm and showed once again that Omigawa is one of the truly elite fighters in the 145-pound and under class. Omigawa has been one of the sport’s most active fighters over the last couple of years, fighting seven times in 2009 and three so far this year. He’s also been one of the best, climbing up the featherweight rankings by going 8-1-1 since the start of 2009.

UFC 119 Weigh-In Video

Filed under: UFCAll the fighters participating in UFC 119 on Saturday night will step on the scale at the weigh-in on Friday afternoon, and if you can’t be there in person you can watch it live right here at MMAFighting.com.

In the main event, Frank M…

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All the fighters participating in UFC 119 on Saturday night will step on the scale at the weigh-in on Friday afternoon, and if you can’t be there in person you can watch it live right here at MMAFighting.com.

In the main event, Frank Mir and Mirko Cro Cop should both be comfortably under the heavyweight limit of 265 pounds, but the weigh-in will be interesting nonetheless, as it will mark the first appearance of Mir since he said in the spring that he was making a point of losing weight. Mir, who weighed in at 265 for his last fight, will likely come in at less than 250 this time around.

The weigh-in begins at 3 PM ET and the video is below.

Mayhem Miller Welcomes the Challenge of Submitting Sakuraba

Filed under: DREAM, MMA Videos, Japan

In Kazushi Sakuraba’s first MMA fight, in 1996, he submitted to an arm triangle choke from Kimo Leopoldo. In more than 40 fights since then, Sakuraba has never tapped.

Royce Gracie couldn’t make him tap in a tota…

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In Kazushi Sakuraba‘s first MMA fight, in 1996, he submitted to an arm triangle choke from Kimo Leopoldo. In more than 40 fights since then, Sakuraba has never tapped.

Royce Gracie couldn’t make him tap in a total of 105 minutes over two fights. Gracie’s relatives Ralek, Ryan, Renzo and Royler couldn’t make Sakuraba tap either. Neither could great submission specialists ranging from Antonio Rogerio Nogueira to Ken Shamrock.

On Saturday in Japan, Jason Mayhem Miller wants to make Sakuraba tap again.

Michael Johnson Talks Team GSP, Teammate ‘Bruce Leroy’

Filed under: UFC, FanHouse ExclusiveGeorges St. Pierre and Josh Koscheck, the two coaches on this season of The Ultimate Fighter, agreed on one thing after assessing all the prospects on this year’s show: The best of the bunch was Michael Johnson.

But…

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Georges St. Pierre and Josh Koscheck, the two coaches on this season of The Ultimate Fighter, agreed on one thing after assessing all the prospects on this year’s show: The best of the bunch was Michael Johnson.

But even though Koscheck had the first pick, it was St. Pierre who used a little deception to trick Koscheck into bypassing Johnson when the two picked their teams. That resulted in Johnson going to Team GSP, which is where he said he wanted to go.

In an interview with MMAFighting.com, Johnson talked about how he felt learning that St. Pierre wanted him above all the other fighters, and about some friction with his teammate, Alex “Bruce Leroy” Cacares, who won the fight on the second episode of Season 12.

UFC 119 Pre-Fight Press Conference Video

Filed under: UFCUFC President Dana White will join heavyweights Frank Mir and Mirko Cro Cop on Thursday at the UFC 119 pre-fight press conference, and if you can’t be there at the Old National Center in Indianapolis, you can watch live right here at MM…

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UFC President Dana White will join heavyweights Frank Mir and Mirko Cro Cop on Thursday at the UFC 119 pre-fight press conference, and if you can’t be there at the Old National Center in Indianapolis, you can watch live right here at MMAFighting.com.

In addition to being an opportunity for the media to question the fighters, the press conference will be the first chance fans have to get a good look at Cro Cop’s eye, which was reportedly injured in training last week.

The live stream starts at 1 PM ET and the video is below.

Baker Wins; West, Makovsky Advance at Bellator 30

Filed under: BellatorAnother chapter was written Thursday night in the great story of MMA fighter Bryan Baker, who’s continuing to fight in the cage while he fights cancer outside the cage.

The 24-year-old Baker defeated MMA veteran Jeremy Horn Thursd…

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Another chapter was written Thursday night in the great story of MMA fighter Bryan Baker, who’s continuing to fight in the cage while he fights cancer outside the cage.

The 24-year-old Baker defeated MMA veteran Jeremy Horn Thursday night at Bellator 30 in his first bout since publicly revealing that he has cancer. It was an impressive showing from Baker, who came back from a rough first round to win a unanimous decision.

“I feel great,” Baker said. “Everybody that supported me, loved me, gave me prayers and support, I thank you.”