Author: Mike Chiari

Melvin Guillard Injury: Updates on Fighter’s Hand and Recovery

Melvin Guillard’s Bellator debut was spoiled Friday, as he dropped a split decision to Brandon Girtz, but the 32-year-old veteran has even bigger issues to worry about in the form of a hand injury.Continue for updates.Guillard to Undergo Surgery to Rep…

Melvin Guillard‘s Bellator debut was spoiled Friday, as he dropped a split decision to Brandon Girtz, but the 32-year-old veteran has even bigger issues to worry about in the form of a hand injury.

Continue for updates.

Guillard to Undergo Surgery to Repair Broken Hand

Saturday, Aug. 29

Guillard entered Friday’s lightweight bout as the favorite, and while Girtz was more than deserving of being awarded the upset win, he was aided by Guillard suffering a significant injury.

As seen in this Instagram photo from Guillard’s coach, Din Thomas of American Top Team, the New Orleans native suffered severe swelling in his hand after breaking it:

According to Mike Bohn of MMAJunkie.com, Thomas revealed that Guillard “shattered” his right hand early in the second round of Friday’s bout. That resulted in a cast being applied to his hand, and he is currently scheduled to undergo surgery soon.

Guillard made a late run in the third round and nearly pulled out a miraculous victory despite the broken hand, but his struggles in the first two rounds resulted in Girtz being named the victor.

With the defeat, the former UFC star fell to 32-15-2 as a professional. The loss also likely damaged his chances of challenging Will Brooks for the Bellator lightweight title in the near future.

While that is certainly disappointing for Guillard and his fans, his current focus must be on healing his hand so he can get back in the Octagon regardless of his next opponent.

It is possible that many are down on Guillard currently after he disappointed in what was supposed to be an emphatic debut; however, losing in part because of bad luck and having to battle back from an injury could put a massive chip on his shoulder.

If he uses the injury as fuel rather than getting down on himself, Guillard could be an even more dangerous force when he ultimately returns. 

 

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Frankie Edgar vs. Chad Mendes Bout Reportedly Set for Ultimate Fighter 22 Finale

Mixed martial arts fans have long hoped for the day when Frankie Edgar and Chad Mendes would lock horns, and that matchup is finally set to happen Dec. 11 as part of The Ultimate Fighter 22’s finale.  
According to Lancenet.com (h/t Marc Raim…

Mixed martial arts fans have long hoped for the day when Frankie Edgar and Chad Mendes would lock horns, and that matchup is finally set to happen Dec. 11 as part of The Ultimate Fighter 22‘s finale.  

According to Lancenet.com (h/t Marc Raimondi of MMAFighting.com), the exciting featherweights are scheduled to do battle in Las Vegas with the victor potentially moving on to face the winner of the UFC Featherweight championship fight between Conor McGregor and Jose Aldo at UFC 194.

Edgar and Mendes have put on some of the most entertaining performances in recent memory, so there is no shortage of excitement regarding their impending clash.

Chamatkar Sandhu of USA Today is among those who expect the top featherweight contenders to engage in a close, captivating fight:

The same can be said for Bleacher Report’s Jeremy Botter, who made no effort to hide his giddiness for the upcoming clash:

The 33-year-old Edgar enters the expected bout with a 19-4-1 record to his credit, along with a four-fight winning streak after losing three in a row in 2012 and 2013.

Mendes, 30, is 17-3, with his only career losses coming against his potential opponents after Edgar as he fell twice to Aldo and once to McGregor in his most recent contest.

Both Edgar and Mendes are known for throwing caution to the wind during their matches, which is why they have combined for eight Fights of the Night between them over the course of their careers.

Despite both of their failures against Aldo, and Mendes’ inability to beat McGregor, they have proven themselves to be worthy contenders for the UFC Featherweight title. The man who wins the bout during The Ultimate Fighter 22 finale will have certainly earned a shot at the belt.

 

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Ronda Rousey vs. Holly Holm Announced for UFC 195: Date, Location and Preview

On the heels of her dominant victory over Bethe Correia, it was announced Friday that UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey’s next challenger will be Holly Holm at UFC 195.  
According to SportsCenter, Rowdy made the official announcement…

On the heels of her dominant victory over Bethe Correia, it was announced Friday that UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey‘s next challenger will be Holly Holm at UFC 195.  

According to SportsCenter, Rowdy made the official announcement during an appearance on Good Morning America. UFC President Dana White confirmed it and set the bout for Jan. 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Rousey also tweeted out an early look at the poster for what promises to be a highly anticipated clash:

Upon revealing her latest opponent, Rousey was extremely complimentary of Holm and what she brings to the table as a former world champion boxer, per Good Morning America (via Chuck Mindenhall of MMAFighting.com):

January 2 I’ll be fighting Holly Holm, who’s the most decorated striker we have in all of mixed martial arts. Not the women’s division, not the bantamweight division. (Holm)’s a 19-time boxing champion. Holly Holm was The Ring magazine pound-for-pound Fighter of the Year, and definitely my biggest challenge to date.

The 28-year-old Rousey is a perfect 12-0 in her career with only one fight lasting beyond the first round. She is the most dominant force in mixed martial arts and is coming off a 34-second victory.

Holm is also undefeated at 9-0, but the 33-year-old New Mexico native doesn’t have a body of work that rivals Rousey’s in the world of MMA.

She is a former Legacy FC women’s bantamweight champion, however, and she boasts a 2-0 record since making the leap to UFC.

Six of Holm’s nine victories have come by way of knockout, and she poses somewhat of a threat to Rousey after going 33-2-3 as a boxer, but nobody has truly pushed the champ to this point.

Unless Holm is able to catch Rousey with some punches right off the bat, she figures to be in big trouble. Her lack of experience in terms of a ground game leaves her susceptible to Rowdy’s dominant armbar.

Most UFC fans are anxiously awaiting Rousey stepping into the Octagon with Cris Cyborg, and while the Holm fight will delay it even further, it should build the anticipation and add another win to Rousey’s record as well.

 

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Aaron Zalewski Reportedly to Avoid Brittney Palmer Attempted Murder Charge

More than two months after getting arrested for allegedly beating his wife, UFC ring girl Brittney Palmer, Aaron Zalewski reportedly won’t be charged with attempted murder as was originally expected.According to TMZ, Zalewski allegedly beat and choked …

More than two months after getting arrested for allegedly beating his wife, UFC ring girl Brittney Palmer, Aaron Zalewski reportedly won’t be charged with attempted murder as was originally expected.

According to TMZ, Zalewski allegedly beat and choked Palmer after overhearing a cellphone conversation in which a casting agent called her “babe.” After the incident, it was initially reported that he would be charged with attempted murder, spousal battery and criminal threats.

TMZ is now reporting that Zalewski will not be prosecuted provided he shows contrition for his alleged actions in front of the Los Angeles City Attorney. TMZ also reported he could be asked to complete anger management classes.

Zalewski is still married to the popular ring girl and model, per TMZ, and although he is apparently on track to avoid charges, that will change if another incident arises before the statute of limitations runs out.

Palmer remains with UFC; however, she has not worked an event since the alleged matter with Zalewski occurred. 

 

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Anderson Silva Suspended: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

After failing drug tests ahead of his clash with Nick Diaz at UFC 183, Anderson Silva has been suspended from competition.
Silva will be forced to sit out for one year and is fined the full $200,000 win purse and an additional 30 percent of the $800,00…

After failing drug tests ahead of his clash with Nick Diaz at UFC 183, Anderson Silva has been suspended from competition.

Silva will be forced to sit out for one year and is fined the full $200,000 win purse and an additional 30 percent of the $800,000 fight purse, per Brett Okamoto of ESPN. Okamoto also noted Silva’s win over Diaz was turned into a no-contest.       

Silva’s suspension is for steroids, as The Spider tested positive for Drostanolone metabolites on Jan. 9, per UFC.com:

Anderson Silva has been an amazing champion and a true ambassador of the sport of mixed martial arts and the UFC, in Brazil as well as around the world. UFC is disappointed to learn of these initial results. The UFC has a strict, consistent policy against the use of any illegal and/or performance enhancing drugs, stimulants or masking agents by its athletes.

According to Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports, Silva tested positive for an oral steroid along with the performance-enhancing drug mentioned in the UFC statement:

Additionally, sources reported to MMAjunkie that the Brazilian star failed a second drug test as well.

In the wake of the first positive test being made public, Silva denied any wrongdoing and made it clear that he did not use steroids, per ESPN.com:

I have not taken any performance enhancing drugs. My stance on drugs is and will always be the same. I’m an advocate for a clean sport. I’m consulting with my advisers right now to explore all of my options and intend to fight this allegation and clear my name. I will not make any further comments until my team advises me to do so.

Despite Silva’s denials, several fighters sounded off regarding the situation. Many view The Spider as one of the greatest competitors of all time, but UFC middleweight Michael Bisping wonders if his entire career is tainted, according to MMAWeekly.com:

Former UFC star Chael Sonnen, who was banned two years for PED use, believes Silva should have been more forthright about the positive tests, per 710 ESPN Seattle:

Regardless of Silva’s reaction to the tests, he will have to accept his punishment. Being knocked out of active competition for this long is a major blow to any fighter, but it is especially worrisome for an older competitor like Silva.

He is 40 years of age, which means he is quickly reaching the end of the line. Because of that, it isn’t a stretch to suggest that he has competed in his last fight.

Silva and Diaz entered UFC 183 as two of the most popular fighters in the sport, and while that may still be true to some degree, there is no question that their reputations have been tainted, with Silva undoubtedly coming out on the worst end of it.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission ultimately had to lay down the law in order to make it clear that drug use won’t be tolerated, and that is precisely what it did with its discipline of Silva.

 

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Ronda Rousey Challenged to Fight and Threatened with Legal Action by Cris Cyborg

Cris “Cyborg” Justino may be the only woman capable of beating UFC Women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey, and she is ready to take the fight to “Rowdy” both inside and outside the Octagon.
Rousey dominated Bethe Correia in a 34-second-long knockou…

Cris “Cyborg” Justino may be the only woman capable of beating UFC Women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey, and she is ready to take the fight to “Rowdy” both inside and outside the Octagon.

Rousey dominated Bethe Correia in a 34-second-long knockout victory at UFC 190, after which she made some disparaging remarks regarding Cyborg, according to Damon Martin of FoxSports.com:

“I’m prepared to deal with anything. That’s why I’m the champ,” Rousey said. “I fight in the UFC 135-pound division. … (Cyborg) can fight at 145 pumped full of steroids and she can make weight just like everybody else without them.”

Cyborg, who currently competes for Invicta FC, understandably took offense to the comments Rousey laid out in the media:

In fact, the 30-year-old Brazilian was so upset that she threatened legal action on Twitter:

At the same time, Cyborg offered a potential compromise with regard to weight in hopes of making a long-awaited clash with Rousey a reality:

The 28-year-old Rousey is a perfect 12-0 in her professional career with only one fight lasting beyond the first round. Cyborg—Invicta FC Women’s Featherweight titleholder—is 14-1 with a no contest, although she hasn’t lost since 2005.

There is no shortage of bad blood between the two competitors, which is why Rousey versus Cyborg may be the biggest dream fight remaining in UFC, and UFC President Dana White is well aware of the potential gold mine he’s sitting on, per Wade Keller of MMA Torch:

White may be wise to officially bring in Cyborg and milk some pay-per-view fights out of both her and Rousey against other opponents before matching them up, but there is too much hatred between them to keep them apart for long.

Rousey has been a joy for MMA fans to watch, but she needs some legitimate competition in order to hold that interest over the long term. Cyborg could be precisely that, and pitting her against Rousey would presumably help UFC do some of its best pay-per-view numbers in history.

 

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