Author: Mike Chiappetta

Cris Cyborg Lopsided Favorite for the Ages Against Jan Finney in Title Defense

Filed under: Fighting, Strikeforce, NewsWhen Cris “Cyborg” Santos walks into the cage to defend her middleweight title belt against Jan Finney during Saturday’s Strikeforce/M-1: Fedor vs. Werdum event, she will do so as one of the biggest favorites in …

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When Cris “Cyborg” Santos walks into the cage to defend her middleweight title belt against Jan Finney during Saturday’s Strikeforce/M-1: Fedor vs. Werdum event, she will do so as one of the biggest favorites in recent MMA history.

According to one online betting site, Cyborg was as much as a -2500 favorite, which means you’d have to lay down a whopping $2500 for the chance to win just $100. To put that into perspective, even the almighty Fedor Emelianenko is only a -600 favorite over Fabricio Werdum, a big number, but nowhere close to Cyborg’s.

The fact that a title match has such long odds is a rarity in MMA. What’s the reason behind the numbers? Three main things. First, the 9-1 Cyborg has built up a reputation as a wrecking machine, with TKO stoppages in seven of her last eight matches. Second, Finney has a fairly pedestrian 8-7 record, a mark you rarely see in a bout with gold on the line. Third, Finney’s strength is striking, yet most everyone believes Cyborg is the better and more powerful striker of the two. All of that means this is a money line for the history books.

Carwin Overshadowed by Lesnar in UFC 116 Leadup, but Ready to Rumble

Filed under: UFC, NewsBrock Lesnar’s illness and one-year layoff are the dominant storylines heading into his UFC 116 heavyweight title matchup, but his opponent Shane Carwin’s life story is equally as compelling.

A former collegiate football All-Amer…

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Brock Lesnar‘s illness and one-year layoff are the dominant storylines heading into his UFC 116 heavyweight title matchup, but his opponent Shane Carwin‘s life story is equally as compelling.

A former collegiate football All-American and Division II wrestling national champion, Carwin seemed on the way to a career in the NFL before an injury derailed those plans. Years later, he picked up MMA and proved a natural. To date, he’s won all 12 of his fights, never going past the first round. Still, he remains story B for the media and the underdog by the oddsmakers. Yet despite his soft-spoken nature and willingness to cede the pre-fight spotlight to his opponent, with a single sentence, Carwin summed up his ability to capture it back.

“If I touch anyone with my hands,” he said, “I can knock them out.”

Brock Lesnar Announces Himself Lighter, Retooled and Ready for Shane Carwin

Filed under: Fighting, UFCBy his mere presence, Brock Lesnar found a way to change the game in the UFC’s heavyweight division. A weight class that had previously been big on quickness and/or power striking (think Randy Couture, Andrei Arlovski and Tim …

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By his mere presence, Brock Lesnar found a way to change the game in the UFC’s heavyweight division. A weight class that had previously been big on quickness and/or power striking (think Randy Couture, Andrei Arlovski and Tim Sylvia), suddenly became the domain of mega-heavyweights who cut to make the 265-pound limit and mauled their opponents with strength and wrestling.

But just when you think you know exactly what you’re in for with Lesnar, the UFC heavyweight champion has gone and if not reinvented, at least retooled his attack.

Speaking today about his upcoming UFC 116 championship title defense against Shane Carwin following a year away, Lesnar told reporters on a conference call that he’d dropped weight, added a new striking coach and focused heavily on his strength and conditioning.

Fabricio Werdum on Facing Fedor: I’m More Calm for This Fight Than Ever

Filed under: Strikeforce, NewsIn the MMA world, Fedor Emelianenko is seemingly part royalty and part deity, even though he doesn’t currently own a major promotional belt and as best as we can tell, he has yet to perform a miracle — although his insta-…

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In the MMA world, Fedor Emelianenko is seemingly part royalty and part deity, even though he doesn’t currently own a major promotional belt and as best as we can tell, he has yet to perform a miracle — although his insta-recovery from the Randleplex from hell back in ’04 may qualify. But because of the aura around Fedor, some fighters are seemingly on the way to beaten before they even step in the cage with him. Here’s what Brett Rogers told SI.com’s Josh Gross about Fedor after he had a chance to stare him down, but before the actual fight.

“I look into his eyes and I see nothing,” he said. “I don’t see if he’s serious. I don’t see if he’s trying to be funny. I can’t sense anything from him. A lot of people say, ‘Don’t pay attention to his demeanor because it will psyche you out.’ It’s true. I feel that.”

Rogers proved to be game on fight night, but was eventually KO’d by Fedor. So will Fabricio Werdum be any different when he faces Fedor during Saturday night’s Strikeforce/M-1 event? He was asked about the Fedor phenomenon and his own mental focus during a recent conference call.

Ex-WWE Star Batista Hasn’t Signed With Strikeforce

Filed under: Strikeforce, FanHouse Exclusive, NewsEarly this morning, TMZ.com posted a video in which former WWE star Dave Batista says he’ll soon be fighting in mixed martial arts for Strikeforce.

It’s not true.

Strikeforce director of communication…

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Early this morning, TMZ.com posted a video in which former WWE star Dave Batista says he’ll soon be fighting in mixed martial arts for Strikeforce.

It’s not true.

Strikeforce director of communications Mike Afromowitz told MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani that the organization has not signed Batista.

WEC 49 Live Blog: Chris Horodecki vs. Dan Downes Updates

Filed under: WECThis is the WEC 49 live blog for Chris Horodecki vs. Dan Downes, a lightweight bout on tonight’s WEC card on Versus from the Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Downes steps in on late notice to take on Canadian fan favorite Hor…

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This is the WEC 49 live blog for Chris Horodecki vs. Dan Downes, a lightweight bout on tonight’s WEC card on Versus from the Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Downes steps in on late notice to take on Canadian fan favorite Horodecki (13-2).

The live blog is below.